Trump mobilizes military to expel illegal immigrants "in fact"...Finance Minister's review of the origin

Three hard-liners on immigration are appointed to prepare for massive deportation

A key member of the staff...Finance Minister in limbo

Vescent-Lutnik Competition Intensifies...Treasurer's Origin Review

Trump grapples with Treasury Secretary to widen candidate group in internal strife

NYT "Rutnik moves away from candidate group after Musk's support"

[Anchor]
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of mobilizing the military in a massive deportation of illegal immigrants, which he has warned will take place shortly after taking office.

The selection process, which had been carried out in a quick decision, seems to have started to speed up, but behind-the-scenes competition over the nomination of Treasury Secretary has led Trump to review the origin.

This is Washington correspondent Hong Sang-hee.

[Reporter]
This is what the leader of the American conservative law group Judicial Watch posted on Truth Social.

It says the Trump administration is ready to declare a state of emergency for the massive deportation of illegal immigrants and will use military assets.

President-elect Trump replied to the post early on the 18th local time, "Fact."

President-elect Trump, who vowed to deport illegal immigrants on his first day in office during the presidential election, hinted at the possibility of mobilizing the military.

[Donald Trump/ U.S. President-elect (last month's 24th): A lot of people (illegal immigrants) are coming from 181 countries. Yes, we are a dumping ground. It's like a trash can for the world. That's what happened to us.

Three immigration hawks have already set up a team to carry out large-scale deportations, including Tom Homan, the border tsar to oversee immigration policy, Kristinom, the secretary of homeland security, and Stephen Miller, the deputy White House chief of staff for policy.

Contrary to key immigration, border and diplomatic and security positions held in a week immediately after the presidential election, the appointment of finance minister is at a standstill.

Hedge fund Key Square Group founder Scott Bessent and investment bank chief executive Canter Fitzgerald Howard Rutnick were expected to be leading candidates, but over the weekend, Trump reportedly ordered a review of the origin.

As the two sides engaged in a smear campaign last week and Elon Musk, who has emerged as a close ally, openly supported Rutnick, they are looking for a third candidate by expanding their candidate group.

The New York Times reported that Rutnick has moved away from the list of candidates after Musk's support, with Scott Bessent, former Fed member Kevin Wash, and Apollo Global Management CEO Mark Cohen among others considered candidates for treasury secretary.

[Scott Bessent / Founder of Key Square Group (last August): I'm sure President Trump is ahead in the polls. He'll be ahead in the polls, and I'm sure he can beat Kamala Harris more than he did when he beat President Biden.]

Trump is expected to invite candidates to his Florida residence Mar-a-Lago for an interview this week.

Trump is expected to use his willingness to raise tariffs as the most important criterion for the appointment of the Treasury secretary, as he pledged to impose universal taxation and tariffs on Chinese products more than 60 percent during the presidential election.

I'm Hong Sang-hee from Washington.

Photograph: Lecture