Vaccine. Were supposed to see the president again in just about an hour at the white house. And we also saw him on twitter earlier today trying to downplay that gsa decision while also continuing to push baseless claims of voter fraud. But we want to start this hour by focusing in on the big announcement from the president elect. Joining me now, nbc news chief Foreign Affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell along with ali vitali in wilmington, delaware. Andrea, of course, i want to start with you. You have covered joe biden for so many years in so many iterations and now were looking at the selection of people that he is making to build out his Foreign Policy and National Security team. You have covered many secretaries of state over the years. The state department in particular has really undergone challenges under the Trump Administration. There are so many people in that department that are demoralized. But this team, both the choice of tony blinken at state but also many of these other selections across the intelligence and National Security community really bring so much deep experience to the table. What are your top takeaways here as we wait for the president elect to formally introduce these picks to the country . Well, its very interesting because joe biden is probably the most experienced Foreign Policy expert since george h. W. Bush, former cia director, twice Vice President , former member of congress, became president , but actually joe biden was head of the Foreign Relations committee for years and years and a member of it as well. So hes got the experience himself and hes bringing in a group of experts who have worked together but are not all from the same stamp. They are being labeled as former obama people but they also have roots in other administrations. And particularly, i can see the restoration of morale and veteran diplomats. And of a focus on diplomacy, not just for Public Relations but real diplomacy, working around the world with our new u. N. Ambassador desinggnee, if she i confirmed. She was the head of the Foreign Service, the chief diplomat as well as being a former ambassador in different countries, having experience as an assistant secretary of state. So her relationships around the world, she can pick up the phone and talk to any of these World Leaders who shes going to be dealing with or through their ambassadors. She has enormous grasp and knowledge as well as personal relationships. And personal relationships are really key here. John kerry coming in to climate, as they say, ive been dealing with john kerry when he was inviting small groups of people over to his house to talk about Climate Change back in the early 90s. Its always been a passion of his when he was less senior senator. So this is something thats close to his heart. Hes been at every climate negotiation thats ever existed and the climate accord, the paris accords which they can reenter. Thats the easiest piece of it as well as, of course, eliminating some of the deregulation that you saw during the trump years. The hardest part is going to be the Iran Nuclear Deal for kerry and joe biden and tony blinken because the sanctions laid on, even though iran has sent signals its willing and eager. They want more for the buck. They first have to go back to the status quo. Theyre now doing 12 times as much processing of nuclear fuel for potential bombs. They say theyre not building one, but theyve broken out in reaction to the sanctions. So theres a lot of work to be done there. But i think working with the allies is the biggest takeaway and thats something thats going to come from the top. Joe biden, the ultimate schmoozer who knows all these people well and i can tell you the european allies are thrilled. That, of course, something that he ran on and focused on in his campaign, rebuilding our alliances, particularly with our nato allies and building out from there. Andrea, we did just get a twominute warning so thank you for starting us off here. I want to go quickly to ali vitali. Forgive me if i have to interrupt you here. We are, of course, waiting for the president elect to come out on stage and begin this event, but oh, and here he comes, ali. Well get you on the other side. Lets listen in. All right, everybody. Okay. Well, good afternoon, everyone. Today im pleased to announce nominations and staff for critical Foreign Policy, National Security positions in my administration. Its a team that will keep our country and our people safe and secure. Its a team that reflects the fact that america is back. Ready to lead the world, not retreat from it. Once again, sit at the head of the table. Ready to confront our adversaries and not reject our allies. Ready to stand up for our values. In fact, in calls from World Leaders that ive had, about 18 of them or 20, so far. Im not sure the exact number, in the weeks since weve won the election. Ive been struck to how much they are looking ford t ining f United States reasserting its position in the pacific and the atlantic and all across the world. The team meets this moment, this team behind me. They embody my core beliefs that america is strongest when it works with its allies. Collectively, this team has secured some of the most defining National Security and diplomatic achievements in recent memory. Made possible through decades of experience working with our partners. Thats how we truly keep america safe. Without engaging in needless military conflicts and our adversaries in check and terrorists at bay. And thats how we countered terrorism and extremism. Control this pandemic and future ones. Deal with climate crisis, nuclear proliferation, cyberthreats and emerging technologies as spread of authoritarianism and so much more. And while this team has unmatched experience and accomplishments, they also reflect the idea that we cannot meet these challenges with old thinking and unchanged habits. For example, were going to have the first woman lead the Intelligence Community. The first latino and immigrant to lead the department of Homeland Security, and a groundbreaking diplomat at the United Nations. Were going to have a principal on the National Security council whose fulltime job is to fight Climate Change for the First Time Ever that will occur. And my National Security team will be coordinated by one of the youngest National Security advisers in decades. Experience and leadership, fresh thinking and perspective. And an unrelenting belief in the promise of america. Ive long said that america leads not only by the example of our power but by the power of our example. And im proud to put forward this Incredible Team that will lead by example. As secretary of state, i nominate tony blinken. Hes one of the better prepared for this job. No one is better prepared in my view. He will be the secretary of state who previously served in top roles on capitol hill, in the white house and in the state department. He delivered for the American People in each place. For example, leading our diplomatic efforts in the fight against isis. Strengthening americans aligns in the asiapacific. Guiding our responses to the global refugee crisis with compassion and determination. And he will rebuild morale and trust in the state department where his career in government began. And he starts off with the kind of relationships around the world that many of his predecessors have had to build over the years. I know. Ive seen them in action. Tony has been one of my closest and most trusted advisers. I know him and his family. Immigrants and refugees, a holocaust survivor who taught him to never take for granted the very idea of america as a place of possibilities. Possibilities. Tony is ready on day one. As secretary for Homeland Security, i nominate Alejandro Mayorkas. This is one of the hardest jobs in government. A gigantic agency. The dhs secretary needs to keep us safe from threats at home and from abroad. And its the job that plays a Critical Role in fixing our broken immigration system. After years of chaos, dysfunction and absolute cruelty at dhs, i am proud to nominate an experienced leader who has been hailed by both democrats and republicans. Ali, as he goes by, is a former u. S. Attorney, former director of citizenship and Immigration Services and a former dhs deputy secretary. Helped to implement daca, prevented attacks on the homeland, enhanced our cybersecurity, helped communities recover from natural disaster. Combated ebola and zika. And while dhs affects everyone, given its Critical Role in immigration matters, im proud that for the First Time Ever, the department will be led by an immigrant, a latino, who knows that we are a nation of laws and values. And one more thing. Today is his birthday. Happy birthday, man. Happy birthday. Hes 21. As the director of national intelligence, i nominate avril haines, the first woman ever to hold this post to lead our Intelligence Community, i didnt pick a politician or a political figure. I picked a professional. She is eminently qualified. Former Deputy Director of the cia, former deputy National Security adviser to president obama, and a fierce advocate for telling the truth and leveling with her decisions with the decisionmakers. Straight up. Nothing unnecessary. I know because ive worked with her for over a decade. Brilliant, humble. Can talk literature and theoretical physics, fixing cars, flying planes, all in a single conversation because shes done all that. And above all, she gets word of a threat if she gets word of a threat coming to our shores, like another pandemic or foreign interference in our elections, she will not stop raising alarms ene until the right people take action. People will be able to take her word because she always calls it as she sees it. I believe we are safer with avril on the watch. I think we see she can make a great contribution. As United States ambassador to the United Nations, i nominate linda thomasgreenfield. A seasoned and distinguished who never forgot where she came from growing up in segregated louisiana. The eldest of eight, her dad couldnt read or write. But she says he was the smartest person she knew. First in her family to go to graduate from high school, then college. The whole world literally ahead of her as her dad and mom taught her to believe. Posts in switzerland, pakistan, kenya, the gambia, nigeria, jamaica, liberia, where she was known as the peoples ambassador. Will meet with anyone, an sdo ambassador, student, working people struggling to get by and treating them with dignity and respect. She was our Top State Department official during the ebola crisis. She received overwhelming support from her fellow Career Foreign Service officers. And shell be a cabinet status because i want to hear her voice on all the major Foreign Policy discussions we have. And my National Security adviser, i choose jake sullivan. Hes once in a generation intellect with experience and temperament for one of the toughest jobs in the world. When i was Vice President , he was my National Security adviser. He was a top adviser to secretary of state clinton. He helped lead the early negotiations that led to the Iran Nuclear Deal. He helped broker the Gaza Ceasefire in 2012. Played a key role in asiapacific rebalance in our administration, and in this campaign for the presidency, he served as one of my most trusted advisers on both foreign and domestic policy, including helping me develop our covid19 strategy. Jake understands my vision, that Economic Security is National Security. And he helps steer what i call Foreign Policy for the middle class. For families. Like his growing up in minnesota where he was raised by parents who were educators and taught him the values of hard work, decency, service and respect. What that means is to win the competition for the future, we need to keep us safe and secure and build back better than ever. We need to invest in our people, sharpen our innovative edge. Unite the economic might of our democracies around the world to grow the middle class and reduce inequity. And do things like counter predatory trade practices that our competitors of our competitors and adversaries. And before i talk about the final person today, let me talk about this new position. For the First Time Ever, the United States will have a fulltime climate leader who will participate in administerial level meetings. Thats a fancy way of saying that well have a seat at every table around the world. For the First Time Ever, he will be there will be a principal on the National Security council who can make sure Climate Change is on the agenda in the situation room. For the First Time Ever, well have a president ial envoy on climate. He will be matched with highlevel white house Climate Policy coordinator and policymaking structure to be announced in december. And that will lead efforts here in the United States to combat the climate crisis, mobilize action to meet the existential threat we face. Let me be clear. I dont for a minute underestimate the difficulties of meeting my bold commitments to fighting Climate Change. But at the same time, no one should underestimate for a minute my determination to do just that. And as for the man himself, if i had a former secretary of state who helped negotiate the Paris Climate Accord or a former president ial nominee or a former leading senator or the head of a major Climate Organization for the job, i would show my commitment to the United States and the whole world. The fact that i pick the one person who is all of these things speaks unambiguously to my commitment. The world will know that with one of my closest friends, john kerry, he is speaking for america on one of the most pressing threats of our time. No one i trust more. To this team, i thank them for accepting this call to service and for their families, i thank you all for your sacrifice. You know, we could do we could not do this without you in my view. Together, these Public Servants will restore america globally, Global Leadership and its moral leadership. And will ensure that our service members, diplomats and intelligence professionals can do their job free of politics. Not only prepare, theyll also reimagine american Foreign Policy and National Security for the next generation. And theyll tell me what i need to know, not what i want to know. What i need to know. To the American People, this team will make us proud to be americans. And as more states certify their results of this election, theres progress to wrap up our victory. You know, im pleased to have received the ascertainment from gsa to carry out a smooth and peaceful transition of power. So our teams can prepare to meet the challenges at hand. To control the pandemic. To build back better and to protect the safety and security of the American People. And to the United States senate, i hope these outstanding nominees receive the prompt hearing and that we can work across the aisle in good faith to move forward for the country. Lets begin that work to heal and unite. To heal and unite america as well as the world. I want to thank you all. May god bless you. May god protect our troops. Now i turn this over to this new team, starting with our next secretary of state, tony blinken. Let me get my mask here, tony, so i dont get in trouble. And ill clean off the podium. Good afternoon. Mr. President elect, Vice President elect harris, thank you for your trust and your confidence. If confirmed by the United States senate, i will do everything i can to earn it. Mr. President elect, working for you, having you as a mentor and friend has been the