TOP REPUBLICAN ACCUSES TRUMP NOMINEES OF BEING 'DISRUPTORS' DESPITE BACK-UP PLANS

Washington D.C. - In a candid interview on Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson described President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks as "disruptors" who aim to shake up the status quo, sparking concerns among lawmakers and experts.

Johnson claimed that many of Trump's nominees are chosen for their loyalty and ability to execute his agenda rather than their policy experience. The remarks have been interpreted as a signal that the president-elect is willing to take risks on untested figures who share his ideology, even if they face controversy in the Senate.

Among the nominees facing scrutiny are Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Attorney General nominee Matt Gaetz, and Health Secretary nominee Robert F Kennedy Jr., who has faced criticism for his vaccine scepticism. Trump's son Donald Trump Jr defended the picks on Fox News, emphasizing that they are chosen for their competence and loyalty rather than their expertise.

The latest pick to join the list is Chris Wright, an oil executive nominated as Energy Secretary. Wright has been open about his climate change scepticism and has received praise from fossil fuel industry leaders, who see his appointment as a victory for their cause. Trump's pledge to increase US energy production has drawn criticism, particularly from environmentalists.

On a related note, former President Joe Biden became the first sitting US president to visit the Amazon rainforest on Sunday, touting his administration's climate legacy and highlighting the importance of preserving tropical ecosystems like the Amazon.