Trump names new appointments, including CIA deputy director and Pentagon chief spokesperson

President Donald Trump continues to appoint new members to his second government, announcing three fresh appointments in a series of Truth Social postings on Monday.

Trump announced that Michael Ellis would become the CIA's deputy director two weeks after taking office. Ellis will not need Senate approval and report to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

Trump stated that the incoming deputy director, a lawyer, would help "fix the CIA and make it, once again, the Greatest Intelligence Agency in the World."

"During my First Term, Michael served at the White House National Security Council and helped expose abuses of the 'unmasking' process by the Obama Administration at the beginning of the Russia, Russia, Russia, Hoax," the commander-in-chief wrote. "Michael was also General Counsel of the House Intelligence Committee under Devin Nunes, and was selected to be General Counsel of the National Security Agency before being corruptly purged by the Biden Administration."

In another role, Trump appointed Joe Kent as the National Counterterrorism Centre's (NCTC) director. According to the agency's website, the NCTC works inside the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to assist officials in "analyzing, understanding, and responding to the terrorist threat."

"As a soldier, Green Beret, and CIA officer, Joe has hunted down terrorists and criminals his entire adult life," Trump said on Truth Social. "Above all, Joe knows the terrible cost of terrorism, losing his wonderful wife, Shannon, a Great American Hero, who was killed in the fight against ISIS."

"Joe honours her legacy by staying in the fight. Joe will help us keep America safe by destroying all terrorism, from Islamists all around the world to the cartels in our backyard," the president concluded.

Finally, Trump appointed Sean Parnell as the chief Pentagon spokesman and assistant secretary of defence for public affairs.

"A Great American Patriot, Sean is a fearless Combat Veteran who led one of the most decorated units in the Afghanistan War," Trump tweeted regarding Parnell. "He earned two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, while his platoon achieved an incredible record of eliminating over 350 enemy fighters."

"During my First Term, Sean was also instrumental in helping pass the MISSION ACT, the BIGGEST VA Reform in History," Trump added. "Congratulations to Sean, his wonderful wife, and their five children!"