FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump has revealed his decision to appoint one of his defense attorneys from the New York hush money trial as his counselor to the president.
Alina Habba, 40, has been a key legal representative for Trump and acted as his spokesperson earlier this year. Since the election, she has spent considerable time with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
In a statement via his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump praised Habba for her loyalty and determination, stating, “She has been unwavering in her loyalty and unmatched in her resolve — standing with me through numerous ‘trials,’ battles, and countless days in Court. Few understand the Weaponization of the ‘Injustice’ System better than Alina.”
This appointment comes on the heels of Trump’s historic conviction as the first former U.S. president to be found guilty of felony offenses. In May, a New York jury convicted him on all 34 counts connected to a scheme aimed at unlawfully influencing the 2016 election by making a hush money payment to an adult film actress who alleged a past sexual encounter with him.
During Trump’s previous administration, the role of counselor was filled by notable Republican strategist Kellyanne Conway. Habba’s heritage is linked to Iraq, where she has Chaldean roots, signifying Iraq’s largest Christian community, recognized as one of the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church.
Habba has been a frequent presence alongside Trump during his campaign activities and was a speaker at the rally held at Madison Square Garden in late October.
Additionally, Trump announced the return of former aide Michael Anton, who will take on the role of director of policy planning at the State Department. Anton previously served as a spokesperson for the National Security Council from 2017 to 2018.
Moreover, Trump disclosed plans to appoint Michael Needham, who formerly worked as the chief of staff for Senator Marco Rubio, as counselor for the State Department. Rubio has been selected by Trump as his prospective secretary of state.