Biden to Announce White House's 'Core Trio' on the 17th

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] President-elect Joe Biden is expected to announce the list of three key aides who will hold important positions at the White House on the 17th (local time). This follows the appointment of Ron Klain as White House Chief of Staff and appears to be an effort to accelerate the transition process despite President Donald Trump's refusal to concede.

Local media such as The New York Times (NYT), citing sources familiar with the transition team, reported that the appointments of Representative Cedric Richmond (Democrat, Louisiana), Jen O'Malley Dillon, campaign manager, and Steve Ricchetti, who served as Vice President Biden's third chief of staff during the Obama administration, will be announced this time.

Richmond, a Black politician who served as co-chair of Biden's campaign during the Democratic primary and is now co-chair of the transition team, is expected to oversee external cooperation. Accordingly, he will become one of the highest-ranking Black aides within the White House.

Dillon, who is credited with successfully leading the presidential campaign, is reportedly appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff. Although she has no White House experience, she is known as a veteran election expert who was also involved in the Obama campaign. CNN reported that she is likely to oversee White House operations, a role previously held by Jim Messina during the first Obama administration.

Ricchetti, a longtime close friend of Biden and former pharmaceutical industry lobbyist, whose name was also mentioned as a candidate for Chief of Staff, is reportedly appointed as a White House counselor according to local media. This role is similar to that of Kellyanne Conway, former senior advisor and considered Trump's "right-hand."

The offices of these three top aides, who will be the highest-ranking staff in the West Wing (the President's executive office), are expected to be located along the corridor of the Oval Office, the President's office, The New York Times reported.

The announcement comes as President-elect Biden accelerates the establishment of his governing agenda and the "Biden team," according to the NYT.

Although Richmond is Black, the fact that all three are loyal inner-circle members may pose a challenge for Biden, who has emphasized unity and diversity during the subsequent appointment process.

In addition to these three, longtime friends such as former Delaware Senator Ted Kaufman, strategist Mike Donilon, Jeffrey Zients who served as White House National Economic Council (NEC) director during the Obama administration, Bruce Reed, former chief of staff during Biden's vice presidency, and Jake Sullivan, former National Security Advisor to the Vice President, are expected to join the White House as part of the "Biden squad," considered the inner circle, Bloomberg News reported.

Bloomberg News reported that most of Biden's inner circle is composed of white individuals, many of whom have worked with him for decades. A significant number have ties to the Obama administration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.