Trump Names Interior-designee Doug Burgum to Head New White House Council on Energy

Washington: President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump's choice to he Interior Department, will also le a newly created National Energy Council that will seek to establish US “energy dominance” around world.

Burgum, in his new role, will oversee a panel that crosses all executive branch agencies involved in energy permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation, Trump said in a statement. As chairman of National Energy Council, Burgum will have a seat on National Security Council, Trump said.

"This Council will oversee path to US ENERGY DOMINANCE by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of Economy, and by focusing on INNOVATION over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation," Trump wrote.

His new policies will help drive down inflation, win an “arms race” with China over artificial intelligence and even expand US diplomatic influence around globe, Trump claimed without explanation.

He accused “rical left” of engaging in a war on American energy, in name of fighting climate change. His policy of energy dominance, which he also espoused during his first term, will allow US to sell oil, gas and or forms of energy to European allies, making world safer, Trump said.

Trump has called oil and natural gas, along with minerals such as lithium and copper, “liquid gold” that should be exploited to maximum extent possible.

We will “DRILL BABY DRILL,” expand ALL forms of Energy production to grow our Economy, and create good-paying jobs,'' Trump said.

Burgum, 67, was elected North Dakota governor in 2016, his first campaign for elected office. A former software executive, he led Great Plains Software, which Microsoft acquired for USD 1.1 billion in 2001. Burgum has also led or companies in real estate development and venture capital.

Burgum has taken a pro-business style as governor of a state where agriculture and oil are main industries. He's pushed income tax cuts, reduced regulations, and changes to animal agriculture laws and higher education governance. Burgum also emphasized a “data-driven” approach to governing, vocated for a odore Roosevelt Presidential Library in state and prioritized engagement with tribal nations.

He ran for president in 2023, but dropped out after his bid failed to resonate. He later endorsed Trump.

Earlier Friday, Trump announced that Steven Cheung will serve as his White House communications director and Sergio Gor will run personnel office. Both have been visers to president-elect since his 2016 campaign.

Cheung led communications for Trump's latest campaign, where he gained a reputation for combative and insulting attacks on Republican's opponents. A native of Sacramento, California, he worked in Republican politics and for Ultimate Fighting Championship before joining Trump's team in 2016.

Gor ran Winning Team Publishing, which he started with Donald Trump Jr. company has published books by Trump and his allies. Gor also led super PAC Right for America.

Presidential Personnel Office will likely be a focal point of Trump's efforts to shape his ministration's staff with loyalists. Trump in a statement described Cheung and Gor as trusted visers, ding that he was “thrilled to have m join my White House".