New details emerged Sunday morning about Donald Trump's developing administration. Israel Hayom has learned that Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has returned to closely assist the president-elect in preparations for building the new administration.

Kushner was among the key figures in Trump's first administration and led many of its successes. Since the 2020 election, he and his wife Ivanka, Trump's daughter, have avoided public and political activity, partly to provide their children with a more comfortable life.

Kushner broke his silence about a month ago, strongly criticizing the Biden administration for its approach toward Israel and its Middle East policy. According to a source familiar with the matter, he has now returned to active involvement in the president's circle to contribute his experience ahead of Trump's second term.

Meanwhile, Republican Party sources assess that Trump's rejection of Mike Pompeo increases the likelihood of Senator Marco Rubio being selected as the next Secretary of State.

Rubio, a Florida senator and strong supporter of Israel, has grown considerably closer to Trump in recent months and attended the victory event in West Palm Beach on Tuesday night. According to two sources, the chances of his selection as America's top diplomat are high.

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President-elect Donald Trump, having secured a decisive return to the White House, began assembling his new team late Saturday, making his first official announcements about the composition of his emerging cabinet.

In a formal statement, Trump confirmed that neither Nikki Haley, his former UN Ambassador, nor Mike Pompeo, who served as Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021, will be returning to positions in the White House.

"I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country," the president-elect wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Haley, who mounted a significant challenge against Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, ultimately withdrew from the race in March 2024 after Trump's commanding victory. Both Haley and Pompeo have maintained strong pro-Israel positions throughout their careers. Pompeo demonstrated this commitment by visiting Israel after the outbreak of the war in 2024, meeting with wounded soldiers and participating in a blood donation drive alongside his wife.

The potential return of Pompeo faced fierce opposition from some Trump loyalists. Media personality Alex Jones criticized the potential return of Pompeo, calling him untrustworthy and suggesting that Pompeo poses a personal threat to Trump and that Trump's handling of this situation will demonstrate his ability to identify and remove what Jones refers to as Deep State influences.

The intense criticism of Pompeo stems from his perceived cooperation with certain investigations targeting Trump. Similarly, Trump's trust in Haley eroded due to her extended primary challenge and her criticism of his statements in the lead-up to the election.

American media reports indicate three leading contenders for secretary of state: Robert O'Brien, Senator Bill Hagerty, and Senator Marco Rubio. For the position of US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, who served in this role during Trump's first term and maintains a long-standing relationship with the president-elect, is being considered.

The final vote tallies, released four days after Trump's victory, confirmed his win in Arizona over Kamala Harris – completing his sweep of all swing states. The Arizona victory added 11 electoral votes to Trump's column, bringing his total to 312.

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America's leading late-night television hosts abandoned their trademark wit for raw emotion following Donald Trump's decisive victory in the presidential race, delivering unusually somber monologues that reflected the deep divisions within American society.

In the 24 hours following the election results, three prominent late-night hosts – all previous backers of Kamala Harris – confronted the new political reality with uncharacteristic gravity.

"We had the choice between a prosecutor and a criminal, and we chose the criminal to be president of the United States," Jimmy Kimmel declared in an emotionally charged monologue, visibly fighting back tears. "More than half of this country voted for the criminal who's planning to pardon himself for his crimes... It was a terrible night for women, for children, for the hundreds of thousands of hardworking immigrants who make this country go, for healthcare, for our climate, for science, for journalism, for justice, for free speech.

"It was a terrible night for poor people, for the middle class, for seniors who rely on social security, for our allies in Ukraine, for NATO, for the truth, and democracy, and decency. It was a terrible night for everyone who voted against him, and guess what, it was a bad night for everyone who voted for him too, you just don't realize it yet."

Stephen Colbert delivered an even more pointed commentary, "Well, f***, it happened again. After a bizarre and vicious campaign fueled by a desperate need not to go to jail, Donald Trump has won the 2024 election. The deep shock and sense of shock is enormous. All day yesterday I was walking around proudly wearing my 'I voted' stick. Today I wore my "I am questioning my fundamental belief in the goodness of humanity' sticker.

"As a late-night host, people often say to me, 'Come on, part of you has got to want Trump to win because he gives you so much material to work with.' No! No! No one tells the guy who cleans the bathroom, 'Wow, you must love it when someone has explosive diarrhea. There's so much material for you to work with.'"

Seth Meyers contributed his perspective through equally stark metaphors, "I was watching the results come in because I couldn't sleep and it was like Christmas Eve if on Christmas morning you're either gonna wake up to find that Santa left presents under the tree or just took a huge dump in your fireplace. If you're lactose intolerant, don't drink the milk, you know...

"I don't think Donald Trump's a good person. I'd even go so far as to say he's a bad person. In my defense, I'm only basing that on everything I've ever been taught about what makes someone good or bad. I accept that half the country thinks he's a good person or they don't care that he's not because they think he's a good president and because of that he's going to be our president again. That's how democracy works in America, a country that is a privilege to live in, even on a morning like today."

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Two prominent Jewish organizations issued statements Wednesday following Donald Trump's primary victory announcement, with the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) ready to "usher in a new Golden Age of peace and prosperity." At the same time, the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) emphasized the need to address rising antisemitism.

The RJC announced it had contributed significantly to Trump's campaign, reporting over $15 million in spending on voter outreach efforts. "This is the greatest political comeback in US history," the RJC stated in its announcement, highlighting its extensive paid media campaign and grassroots engagement efforts in key Jewish communities. According to the RJC, Jewish voters played a crucial role in battleground states, with the organization noting that "The Jewish vote matters, and it played a major role in delivering the Presidency for President Trump."

RJC Congratulates President Donald J. Trump on Greatest Political Comeback in US History

President Donald J. Trump's decisive victory tonight is a victory for American Strength, American Leadership, American Prosperity, and the American Dream.

This is the greatest political… pic.twitter.com/sInyzVPdn8

— RJC (@RJC) November 6, 2024

 The statement from the RJC specifically pointed to concerns about safety in the Jewish community and Israel's security as key factors in voter decision-making. "Jewish voters from coast to coast rejected Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party due to their failure to keep the Jewish community safe, and for undermining our ally Israel as it continues to fight an existential war against Iran and its terrorist proxies."

Meanwhile, the Combat Antisemitism Movement released its own statement, focusing on the challenges facing the American Jewish community. The organization cited data indicating that 3.5 million American Jews, representing more than 60% of the US Jewish population, have personally experienced antisemitism.

"Amid this dire reality, we expect the incoming presidential administration and all public officials to take urgent and decisive action to stop the rise of antisemitism and ensure the world's oldest hatred has no place in contemporary American society," CAM stated.

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Preliminary exit polls from the 2024 presidential election reveal widespread economic dissatisfaction and deep concerns about American democracy, according to ABC News data released on election night.

The state of democracy emerged as voters' top concern among five key issues tested, with 35% ranking it as their primary consideration. Economic matters followed closely at 31%, while abortion (14%), immigration (11%), and foreign policy (4%) rounded out voters' main priorities.

The data shows a nation grappling with significant challenges, as just 26% of voters expressed enthusiasm or satisfaction with the country's direction, compared to 72% who reported feeling dissatisfied or angry. Nearly three-quarters of voters (73%) view American democracy as threatened rather than secure (25%).

In the crucial swing states, between 68% and 73% of voters expressed concern about threats to democracy. This sentiment crossed partisan lines in Georgia, where 81% of voters expressed confidence in their state's election integrity, including 94% of Democrats, 78% of independents, and 72% of Republicans.

The economy remains a significant source of voter anxiety. Two-thirds of voters (67%) describe the economy as being in poor condition, while 45% report worse personal financial situations compared to four years ago - exceeding the 42% recorded during the 2008 financial crisis.

President Joe Biden faces challenges with a 41% approval rating, which is the lowest for an incumbent president in exit polls since President George W Bush's 27% in 2008. This has complicated Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign efforts to distinguish her agenda from the current administration.

The preliminary data reveals complex dynamics in voter perceptions of the candidates. Former President Donald Trump Trump faces favorability ratings of 44%-55%, while Vice President Harris stands at 48%-50%. Notably, 55% of voters consider Trump's views "too extreme," compared to 46% for Harris.

More voters favor Harris on abortion policy, while Trump holds an advantage on immigration and economic issues. Support for legal abortion reaches 66% nationally, with majority backing across all seven swing states ranging from 60% to 69%.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday morning congratulated Donald Trump on his US election win.

"Dear Donald and Melania Trump, congratulations on history's greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America," the prime minister said in a statement.

Dear Donald and Melania Trump,

Congratulations on history's greatest comeback!

Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.

This is a huge victory!

In true friendship,… pic.twitter.com/B54NSo2BMA

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 6, 2024

Foreign Minister Israel Katz tweeted along with a photo of him and Trump, "Congratulations to President-Elect @realDonaldTrump on his historic victory. Together , we'll strengthen the US-Israel alliance, bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran."

Congratulations to President-Elect @realDonaldTrump on his historic victory. Together , we'll strengthen the US-Israel alliance, bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran.#BringThemHome #USIsraelAlliance pic.twitter.com/aEYfttfPt1

— ישראל כ"ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) November 6, 2024

Minister Gideon Sa'ar tweeted, "Congratulations President @realDonaldTrump on a truly historic victory. As a true friend of Israel with a proven commitment to Israel's security, we welcome your strong and dedicated leadership as we work to build a better future of security and cooperation for the Middle East."

Similarly, Education Minister Yoav Kisch, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party tweeted, "Welcome back Mr. President!!"

Culture Minister Miki Zohar, also of Likud, wrote, "Congratulations to US President-elect Donald Trump. We are already looking forward to the next four years."

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Election Day in the United States is here, and it seems the only thing we can agree on is that this is a crucial one.

Having served in the first Trump Administration, I unsurprisingly want my former boss of almost a quarter-century to win, and think he represents the best path for America, the Middle East, and world Jewry. But I think there is something more important to say this Election Day.

Regardless of who wins, the next few years will be critical to the future of the West. Whether the free world is led by Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, good people across the globe will have a role to play in shoring up our security, improving Western nations' standing, and maintaining our place as technological innovators and economic powerhouses.

While this is true across the West, I'll focus on two countries struggling with severe division: Israel and the US. Regardless of who is at the helm of those two great nations, the best way to achieve our basic desires for these countries is to try to heal internal divisions and improve our sense of unity.

In the US and Israel, arguments over how to handle tense social and political issues are everywhere. To some degree, that's healthy and natural. We should argue about how best to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, judicial reform, the secular-religious divide, and more. But heated times like these, which prime us to see the world as your-team-versus-mine, often devolve into division and enmity.

Even arguing respectfully is not enough. Especially at moments like these, we need to recognize that when bad actors sense our division, they smell blood. Debate is a strength but treating our friends like enemies is a dangerous form of weakness.

True unity requires working together, even when we don't agree on many details. Right and left, secular and religious, and yes, Arab and minority citizens too – all need a seat at the table, a common set of rights and obligations, and a willingness to subdue self-interest at times in favor of the good of the community. Building bridges with those we disagree with, explaining why we disagree and seeking compromise when possible or conveying legitimate reasons why compromise may not be possible – those are prerequisites to healthy unity.

In both countries, I believe that one of our basic unifying commitments must be achieving stability through strength. Acknowledge and fight those who threaten our citizens or way of life. But do so with an eye towards connecting with individuals and nations that have been caught up in conflicts but are not themselves guilty of inflaming them, and who may be willing to partner with us to reduce or even seek to extinguish the violence.

To that end, I hope that Israel and the United States will show warmth and understanding towards Israel's Arab neighbors – those who signed the Abraham Accords and those who have not yet but hopefully will someday. We hardly agree on everything, but we need each other economically, diplomatically and from a security perspective in a region where some leaders seek only chaos, violence and destruction.

One more note on unity between allies: To truly succeed as a world power, Israelis must learn to put themselves in the shoes of their now-allies and not-yet-allies and better understand their needs and decisions. All of those countries, from the US to the Arab states, are independent in some ways and intertwined in many others – including some that have little or nothing to do with Israel. Just as Israel is an independent nation with a unique set of problems and the right to make its own decisions, its allies and neighbors are too. If Americans choose to take a path Israelis would prefer they didn't, which may happen from time to time, that is not automatically a sign of abandonment. Neither side of our bilateral alliance can afford to give up on the other, no matter how much we may question the other side's policy choices. Arab states also have their own limitations, goals, and expectations to contend with, and those may be different from Israel's. That does not mean that common ground cannot be found.

Am Yisrael Chai is a promise, but it is also a mission: What are we doing to ensure the Nation of Israel lives? Rejecting division and taking steps towards unifying the good people and great nations of the world is central to that mission. On this Election Day, I pray for the forces of true unity to prevail. God bless America, Israel, and its new allies, and its not-yet-allies. God bless the Israel Defense Forces who embody unity in their righteous fight against evil, thereby protecting not only the State of Israel, but Jews all over the world.

Jason D. Greenblatt was the White House Middle East envoy in the Trump administration. He is the author of In the Path of Abraham: How Donald Trump Made Peace in the Middle East—and How to Stop Joe Biden From Unmaking It, Senior Director of Arab-Israel Diplomacy for the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs and the founder of Abraham Venture LLC. Follow him on X: @GreenblattJD

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On a dimmed stage in Hollywood, Florida, five years ago, I had a glimpse of a side of Donald Trump that too few see – or want to see.

The then-president was the keynote speaker at a convention of the Israel-American Council. After his typically rousing speech, when TV cameras were turned off and reporters were heading for the door, Trump lingered to listen respectfully to a rendition of "God Save America" by Shalva, a band of special-needs musicians from Israel. One by one, they then shuffled up to the towering leader of the free world, who was more than happy to hug, clap, and chat with them.

This was no scripted photo-op with models or generals, statesmen, or sportsmen. There was no political payoff. It was as simple and as sincere as it looked: a beaming father of five, extending his paternal warmth and encouragement to an extraordinary group of young people.

The image has stayed with me, a useful antidote to the endless farrago of lies about a man who seems to uniquely madden the news media.

And it is advisedly that I use the word "man" to describe our former – and, God willing, future – president. Because, yes, manly traits are desperately called for in our confused and dangerous times. The United States and its allies again face enemies guided by the most atavistic of values – extreme violence in the pursuit of extreme power – and we need a president who can push back, unambiguously.

There is simply no alternative to the courage, protectiveness, and clear-sightedness that Trump evinces with such peerless energy. We all witnessed this in his first term: The slashing of needless economic regulations and willingness – so timely, in retrospect – to call out NATO partners for not holding up their end of the defense spending. The unvarnished warnings about unchecked illegal immigration. The ripping up of the awful Iran nuclear deal. The implementation the people's will - as expressed in a much-deferred act of Congress from 1995 – by moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem.

Trump stood for what was right, even if that meant standing alone. He did so while buffeted by an unprecedented deluge of hostile press and confected legal actions. And, throughout, he kept up that signature good cheer that is the mark of true self-confidence and leadership. He showed, in fact, that he can be a real mensch – which, not coincidentally, is a Yiddish word for "man".

In a democracy like ours, an election reflects the will of the people. But it should not be a popularity contest. It should be a choice based on principles – not a show of principles being elasticized to please an electorate.

Mr. Trump, you have my vote. I say this clearly, as a proud female professional, a former army officer, a veteran physician, and businesswoman: You are the right man – the only man – for the job. ‎

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Elon Musk joined a chorus of public outcry over the euthanasia of Peanut, a social media star squirrel seized by New York authorities, according to News18 reporting.

The squirrel, who gained widespread popularity across social platforms, was taken into custody and euthanized after state officials raided his caretaker's home on Wednesday.

President @realDonaldTrump will save the squirrels

RIP P'Nut pic.twitter.com/yoIBV0Okpd

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2024

Mark Longo, who operates an animal sanctuary, had cared for Peanut for seven years after reportedly finding the orphaned squirrel when its mother was struck by a vehicle in New York City. The animal had accumulated hundreds of thousands of followers across Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms.

"President Donald Trump will save the squirrels. RIP P'Nut," Musk wrote on X, sharing an image of Peanut perched on Longo's back. The Tesla CEO also posted an edited image depicting Peanut in Star Wars character garb, writing "If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine – Obi PNut Kenobi."

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Chemung County Department of Health released a joint statement explaining their actions: "On Oct 30, DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies. In addition, a person involved with the investigation was bitten by the squirrel. To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized."

The raid, which followed anonymous complaints, resulted in authorities taking both Peanut and a raccoon named Fred from Longo's residence near the Pennsylvania border in rural Pine City.

The government should not be allowed to barge into your house and kill your pet! That's messed up.

Even if it is illegal to have a pet squirrel (which it shouldn't be), why kill PNut instead of simply releasing him into the forest!? https://t.co/2m9Gi5QpUT

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 3, 2024

A post on Peanut's Instagram account, which boasts over 500,000 followers, expressed grief over the loss: "You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, there's a special place in hell for you... THANK YOU for breaking apart a family and crushing any hopes of our nonprofit to survive."

Longo and his wife, Daniela, established P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in April 2023, currently home to approximately 300 animals including horses, goats, and alpacas. Longo mentioned he was in the process of securing educational animal certification for Peanut when the seizure occurred.

Musk, a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump, questioned the authorities' actions: "The government should not be allowed to barge into your house and kill your pet! That's messed up. Even if it is illegal to have a pet squirrel (which it shouldn't be), why kill PNut instead of simply releasing him into the forest!?"

The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media platforms, with users demanding "justice for Peanut."

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It was not Kamala Harris. Because Newsom, San Francisco's former mayor, had his eye on the governor's mansion, Harris faced no major Democratic competition when she ran for the U.S. Senate in 2016. 

That seat became open when then-Sen. Barbara Boxer announced she would not run for re-election. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villariagosa wanted to run for Boxer's seat, but former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown warned him off. Yes, that would be the same Willie Brown whom Harris had dated. Thus, 2016 was a win-win for the California Democrat establishment. Newsom won the governor's office, and Harris could use the Senate as a platform to preach her progressive ideas.

By 2019, Harris was running for the White House. But her candidacy failed to generate steam. She dropped out of the race before she could be humiliated in the 2020 Iowa caucuses, the election season's first vote, and before California primary voters could reject her. Harris, you see, did not have the heft to win a presidential primary in her own ultra-liberal home state. 

But she always had luck in her corner. In 2020, front-runner Joe Biden had said he would pick a female running mate. Yes, like every other politician in America, Harris carried some baggage. Throughout her career, Harris was notorious for high staff turnover in her ranks. Biden apparently didn't care. 

Did she improve? In 2021, former Harris communications director Gil Duran wrote in the San Francisco Examiner,"The only people suffering more than Harris are her staff members, some of whom have already quit their plum positions amid reports of a toxic work environment." If you've been watching CNN of late, you may see Harris as she wants you to see her: a former hard-nosed prosecutor who started out as a data-driven, do-your-homework, moderate Democrat. 

I laugh out loud. Tough? Prepared? Moderate? Um, no. Those aren't terms that people who knew Harris would have used to describe her during her time as San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general. 

When she was DA, Harris' focus was on progressive politics – not seeking the death penalty, even for cop killers, and not seeking the toughest sentences for repeat offenders. I remember a district attorney who talked inordinately about the crimes she would not prosecute. When Harris ran for president in 2019, she actually told the ACLU she supported spending tax dollars on transgender surgeries and treatments – including for detained migrants and inmates. Since Biden unceremoniously ended his re-election campaign in July and handed his party's nod to his vice president, Harris has boasted that she was the only border-state prosecutor in the race. But that doesn't mean she was good at it. 

To the contrary, as she worked her way up the political ladder, Harris supported decreasing funding for ICE and ending ICE detainers for local law enforcement. Harris has criticized Donald Trump for doing "nothing to fix our broken immigration system" after she, Biden's "point person on immigration," and Biden did nothing to fix that sorry structure. So it should be no surprise that after Biden put the border in his vice president's portfolio, she visited the border once, under pressure.If Harris wins this election, where will she stand on the border? Probably on both sides. Expect her to talk tough on enforcement, but pick a team that doesn't see illegal immigration as a problem deserving of more than lip service. 

When Biden chose Harris to be a running mate, cynics and wags looked at her as his insurance policy. Sure, Biden's verbal stumbles were concerning, and, yes, the commander-in-chief had blustered past the 80-year mark. Before the June debate in which Biden fumbled and stumbled, party biggies thought Biden was a better bet than Harris, who just turned 60. Now, some of the folks who pushed for Harris are wondering if they made a mistake.

Originally published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal

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