Pompeo and Haley out as Trump forms team

US president-elect Donald Trump said former Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley and former secretary of state Mike Pompeo will not be asked to join his administration.

"I will not be inviting former ambassador Nikki Haley or Pompeo, to join the Trump administration, which is currently in formation," Trump posted on social media. "I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our country."

Trump is meeting with potential candidates to serve in his administration before his January 20 inauguration as president.

Trump has met prominent investor Scott Bessent, who is a potential treasury secretary nominee.

Haley, a former South Carolina governor who served as US ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, endorsed Trump for president despite having criticized him harshly when she ran against him in the party primaries.

"I was proud to work with president Trump defending America at the United Nations," Haley said on social media. "I wish him, and all who serve, great success in moving us forward to a stronger, safer America over the next four years."

Pompeo, who also served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency under Trump, has been mentioned in some media reports as a possible defense secretary and had been also seen a potential Republican presidential candidate, before he announced in April 2023 he would not run.

During his first term as president, Trump made some key personnel announcements via social media posts.

Trump also announced that his inaugural committee will be chaired by Florida real estate investor Steven Witkoff and former Georgia senator Kelly Loeffler, who he called "longtime friends and supporters."

"This will be the kick-off to my administration, which will deliver on bold promises to Make America Great Again," Trump said in a news release.

Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner, who was with Trump when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September.

Trump's first inauguration was scrutinized for its lavish spending. The inaugural committee chair back then, California billionaire Tom Barrack, drew attention by raising US$107 million (HK$834.6 million) for the event.

Trump's businesses and the inaugural committee reached a deal to pay Washington, DC, US$750,000 to resolve a lawsuit that alleged the committee overpaid for events at his hotel and enriched the former president's family in the process.

The committee maintained back then that its finances were independently audited, and that the money was spent in accordance with the law.

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