and the first Latino to lead the Department of Homeland Security - are 'ready to lead the world, not retreat from it. Ready to confront our adversaries, not reject our allies. And ready to stand up for our values.' In his remarks, Biden got in a dig at Trump's 'America first' policy that took more of an isolationist approach to global affairs. 'In calls from world leaders in the weeks since we won this election,' he said, 'I've been struck by how much they are looking forward to the United States reasserting its historic role as a global leader.' Biden has spoken to leaders of America's major allies, including the United Kingdom, France, Israel, Canada, India, the European Union and NATO. He touted the diversity of his team, which includes Avril Haines as the first female Director of National Intelligence; Alejandro Mayorkas as the first Latino to head
the Department of Homeland Security; Linda Thomas-Greenfield, an African-American who grew up in segregated Louisiana, for his U.N. Ambassador; and the nation's first ever principal on the National Security Council to fight climate change - a position to be held by former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. But one thing they all have in common is ties to the Obama administration - Biden's way of signaling to the world of a return to more predictable diplomatic engagement. The posts to be held by Kerry, Sullivan and Haines do not require Senate confirmation. The Biden team kept to COVID protocols during the event. A staffer ran up a set of stairs onto the stage to wipe down the podium between each person's remarks. Biden and his team wore face masks except when they spoke - although a few people forgot their mask on the podium when they were done and had to return to retrieve it.
Here's the Biden national security team:
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate
Kerry, who served as secretary of state under Obama and the Democratic Party nominee in 2004, is to be Biden's climate czar. The two men are longtime friends. They overlapped for years in the Senate and share a focus on international issues. Kerry also helped negotiate the Paris Climate Accord as well as the Iran nuclear deal, which both became targets for President Trump.
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