MAVOCKE -- When President Jim McCaren nominated former POG Governor Donna Almone to be the next Foreign Affairs Secretary, he got push-back from some members of Congress.
But McCaren also got complaints from an unlikely source: the President of the United States.
Phone records and aides to McCaren and Almone confirmed that US President Donald J. Trump called Collester the day after Almone was nominated for the position.
Trump spoke directly with McCaren, with Almone and a handful of other officials listening in.
The US President expressed his dissatisfaction with Almone, who has frequently and publicly criticized Trump in the past.
Trump told McCaren he should rescind Almone's nomination and pick someone else for the top job at Foreign Affairs.
"With all due respect, Mr. President, I am not going to pick someone else. Donna Almone is who I chose and I am going to stick with that decision. I have the utmost confidence in her," McCaren told Trump.
Collester did not release the full transcript from the call, including Trump's verbatim comments.
But sources say Trump was upset and told McCaren picking Almone was a mistake.
In a meeting last month with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Almone said she told Pompeo privately that she would be fair toward Trump and his administration when working with the United States.
"I told Secretary Pompeo that when he and President Trump are right on the issues, I will speak up and join with them. And when President McCaren and I feel the Americans are wrong on the issue, we will speak up about that as well," said Almone, recalling the conversation.
Before she took over her new job as Foreign Affairs Secretary, Almone criticized Trump for his positions on climate change and immigration. She also condemned his use of personal attacks and views toward women.
Asked if she thought Trump, Pompeo and other officials in the Trump administration would treat her fairly, Almone said she hoped so.
"I don't want to be mistreated for being a woman. Whether it's by a foreign government or by someone in our own country. I shouldn't be looked down upon because I'm a woman. No woman should have to deal with that kind of sexism in this day and age," said Almone. "But I also don't want to be treated with kid gloves. I want to be treated like everyone else, like all the men. I want my peers and counterparts from other countries to be straight up and honest with me and to treat me fairly but with dignity."
McCaren said Almone is "just as tough and competent and capable as any man" in a similar role.
"Donna is an amazing foreign secretary, and she will do as good if not better a job than any male politician will," McCaren said.
McCaren also issued a stinging rebuke to Trump, saying "no foreign government or foreign leader will ever dictate who I can or cannot nominate to my cabinet. That is my decision. Grassadellia is a sovereign country and we will conduct our business on our own terms. We will not be influenced or swayed by foreigners."
GNN contacted the White House for comment on this story but received no response.
But McCaren also got complaints from an unlikely source: the President of the United States.
Phone records and aides to McCaren and Almone confirmed that US President Donald J. Trump called Collester the day after Almone was nominated for the position.
Trump spoke directly with McCaren, with Almone and a handful of other officials listening in.
The US President expressed his dissatisfaction with Almone, who has frequently and publicly criticized Trump in the past.
Trump told McCaren he should rescind Almone's nomination and pick someone else for the top job at Foreign Affairs.
"With all due respect, Mr. President, I am not going to pick someone else. Donna Almone is who I chose and I am going to stick with that decision. I have the utmost confidence in her," McCaren told Trump.
Collester did not release the full transcript from the call, including Trump's verbatim comments.
But sources say Trump was upset and told McCaren picking Almone was a mistake.
In a meeting last month with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Almone said she told Pompeo privately that she would be fair toward Trump and his administration when working with the United States.
"I told Secretary Pompeo that when he and President Trump are right on the issues, I will speak up and join with them. And when President McCaren and I feel the Americans are wrong on the issue, we will speak up about that as well," said Almone, recalling the conversation.
Before she took over her new job as Foreign Affairs Secretary, Almone criticized Trump for his positions on climate change and immigration. She also condemned his use of personal attacks and views toward women.
Asked if she thought Trump, Pompeo and other officials in the Trump administration would treat her fairly, Almone said she hoped so.
"I don't want to be mistreated for being a woman. Whether it's by a foreign government or by someone in our own country. I shouldn't be looked down upon because I'm a woman. No woman should have to deal with that kind of sexism in this day and age," said Almone. "But I also don't want to be treated with kid gloves. I want to be treated like everyone else, like all the men. I want my peers and counterparts from other countries to be straight up and honest with me and to treat me fairly but with dignity."
McCaren said Almone is "just as tough and competent and capable as any man" in a similar role.
"Donna is an amazing foreign secretary, and she will do as good if not better a job than any male politician will," McCaren said.
McCaren also issued a stinging rebuke to Trump, saying "no foreign government or foreign leader will ever dictate who I can or cannot nominate to my cabinet. That is my decision. Grassadellia is a sovereign country and we will conduct our business on our own terms. We will not be influenced or swayed by foreigners."
GNN contacted the White House for comment on this story but received no response.
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