The Note: Trump Takes to the Bully Pulpit

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December 8, 2016

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Trump Takes to the Bully Pulpit

Trump Lashes Out at Carrier Union Boss

Donald Trump took to Twitter last night to slam the union leader who has been criticizing his Carrier job-saving deal. Trump tweeted, "Chuck Jones, who is President of United Steelworkers 1999, has done a terrible job representing workers. No wonder companies flee country!" While speaking to CNN's Erin Burnett Wednesday night, Jones responded to Trump's tweet, saying, "Well, first of all, that wasn't very damn nice. But with Donald Trump saying that, that must mean I'm doing a good job. Because these people are making a decent wage at Carrier. And I feel like I'm somewhat involved in making that happen. And he does everything he can to keep unions out of his hotels and casinos here in this country, depriving them of making a living wage. So I don't put a whole hell of a lot of faith in whatever he says." More from ABC's DAVID CAPLAN: http://abcn.ws/2gerHkB

How Trump's Tweets Seem to Be Impacting Stocks and CEOs

Donald Trump is known for airing his grievances and musings on Twitter, but now his opinions seem to be directly impacting the U.S. stock market and investors. The most recent example came Wednesday morning after the president-elect said that he wants to reduce drug prices in his interview with Time magazine, which named him "Person of the Year." Trump was asked about the rise in biotech stocks following his electoral victory. "I'm going to bring down drug prices. I don't like what has happened with drug prices," he told Time. Investors were not pleased with those comments. ABC's MEGHAN KENEALLY has more: http://abcn.ws/2glUbMG

Analysis - ABC's RICK KLEIN

The bully pulpit is being used to bully. In his month as president-elect, Donald Trump has used Tweets to blast protesters upset with his election; threaten a government contract awarded to a company opposing his agenda; falsely claim that he won the popular vote if you only count the votes of legal citizens; and attack a local union head – a private citizen – who went on television to question the accuracy of his claims of saved jobs. This isn't crossing lines – it's scribbling over the old ones, and redrawing the boundaries of propriety even before Trump takes office. One question for those who might seek to challenge the president is how they react to this new reality. Trump won't change – but will efforts to draw him out adjust? When a president reacts to cable news, or online chatter, the spotlight will be on not just the president but on the person or entities under attack.

Trump Expected to Pick Gen. John Kelly as DHS Secretary

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate Gen. John Kelly for secretary of Homeland Security, according to two top transition officials familiar with the decision. Kelly is a retired four-star general and the former commander of U.S. Southern Command. In addition to his experience leading troops overseas, he is known for his strong knowledge of border issues and the drug trade in South and Central America, ABC's SHUSHANNAH WALSHE, TOM LLAMAS and ALEXANDER MALLIN report. http://abcn.ws/2gb3Uat

Trump Picks Iowa Gov. as Ambassador to China, Scott Pruitt to Head EPA and WWE Co-Founder to Lead SBA

Trump named Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad as his pick for the next U.S. ambassador to China, Trump transition spokesman Jason Miller said Wednesday. Branstad, the longest-serving governor in U.S. history, has accepted the offer, ABC's ARLETTE SAENZ notes. http://abcn.ws/2gU0esz Trump also selected Oklahoma Attorney General and Environmental Protection Agency critic Scott Pruitt as his pick to run the EPA, according to Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway. "Attorney General Pruitt has great qualifications and a good record as the AG of Oklahoma," Conway told reporters, according to ABC's ALEXANDER MALLIN. http://abcn.ws/2hlsfX0 And Trump named former professional wrestling executive Linda McMahon as his pick to lead the Small Business Administration, ABC's ARLETTE SAENZ reports. McMahon is the co-founder and former chief executive officer of the WWE franchise. http://abcn.ws/2gcDQ9I