Retired Marine General Kelly May Become US Homeland Security Secretary

Retired Marine Gen. John Kelly is considered by US President-elect Donald Trump’s team as a candidate for the post of homeland security secretary, local media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Kelly, who retired as chief of US Southern Command earlier this year after more than 40 years in service, was a vigorous critic of US President Barack Obama’s plans to close the Guantanamo prison, the Washington Post newspaper reported Monday, citing its sources familiar with the situation.

He is also said to be concerned over the Obama administration’s decision to give women full access to combat roles. Kelly reportedly met with Trump and his future Vice-President Mike Pence on Sunday.

The sources said that the final decision had not been made yet, with Frances Townsend, a top homeland security and counterterrorism official under the George W. Bush’s administration, and Kris Kobach, the secretary of state of Kansas, also being considered as candidates for a homeland security secretary position.

On November 8, Trump managed to come ahead of his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the US presidential elections, securing at least 290 electoral votes despite most of the analysts and opinion polls predicting his defeat. Now his team is forming the future Cabinet.