The hosts of The View discussed President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks, suggesting they represent a more moderate approach and possess greater government experience compared to his 2016 choices.
Hosts Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin expressed surprise at Trump's choice of Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, Thomas Homan as Border Czar and Michael Waltz as National Security Advisor.
Rubio is a U.S. Senator from Florida, serving since 2011. Rubio has focused on issues such as foreign policy, immigration reform and economic growth.
"Marco is qualified. He's been on Foreign Relations in the Senate for many years. I'm happy because he knows Latin America which is a region that's often forgotten," Navarro said. "I'm surprised by the appointment, because he and I agree on foreign policy, and I think he's considered a foreign policy hawk and kind of like a neocon."
A neocon, short for neoconservative, is a political term used to describe individuals, primarily in the U.S., who advocate for the use of military intervention and a proactive foreign policy to promote democracy and American interests abroad.
"You are hearing a sigh of relief from America's allies abroad. These are people who are qualified. Mike Waltz is a Green Beret. He served in combat. He served our nation, so he's also not just opining as somebody who was in academia," Farah Griffin said. "These are people who know who America's enemies are: Russia, China and Iran, and they know who our allies are, and I think they are good choices."
Waltz is a U.S. Congressman representing Florida's 6th district. A member of the Republican Party, Waltz served in the U.S. Army Special Forces before entering politics. He was elected to Congress in 2018.
His legislative focus includes national security, defense policy and veterans' affairs. Waltz has also been vocal on issues related to foreign policy, particularly regarding the Middle East and China. He is known for his military background and his advocacy for a strong defense posture.
Farah Griffin also pointed out that Homan served under former President Barack Obama.
"He first served under Barack Obama, and at the time, people called Obama the 'Deporter in Chief.' You know, he deported more people than Trump," Farah Griffin said. "He was not targeting people who've been here 30 years and have deep roots in this country."
Homan worked at ICE in various roles, including as the executive associate director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, overseeing immigration enforcement. His career with ICE spanned both the Obama and Trump administrations, with his views on immigration evolving in prominence.
Co-host Sunny Hostin criticized the new approach, predicting it would only be a matter of time "until he fires them."
Although Trump might have taken a more moderate approach, Hostin expressed concern over Stephen Miller's appointment as Chief of Policy and Lee Zeldin's selection as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
"I'm kind of worried about the Stephen Millers of the world. I'm worried about Lee Zeldin, the Administrator of the EPA, who voted against climate based policies, which will affect our children, which will affect our grandchildren," Hostin said. "People are going to get the America that they voted for, not the America that I voted for, but the America they voted for."
Miller is known for his hardline stance on immigration and his role in shaping the Trump administration's immigration policies.
Zeldin is a U.S. politician and attorney who served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 1st congressional district from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Zeldin is known for his strong conservative positions, particularly on national security, immigration and taxes.
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