Axelrod: Obama Transition Team Wasn’t Criticized Over Appointments Like Trump Is

David Axelrod, having personal experience working on a presidential transition team, spoke up in defense of Donald Trump‘s amid criticism over the pace of their announcements:

Lots of reasons to be concerned about @realDonaldTrump transition but the pace of announcements isn't one of them. That's not a fair shot.

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) November 17, 2016

We hadn't made any major appointments at this point in 2008. I don't remember being criticized for it. https://t.co/3yXvA8g6bL

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) November 17, 2016

For the sake of context, CBS News pointed out in a report today that the only staff hire announced within the first two weeks of the 2008 transition was Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff. Obama also named only one Cabinet nominee in November 2008: Timothy Geithner.

That being said, there have been reports of internal “chaos” in Trump’s transition team and a report out today says no one from the transition team has reached out to the Pentagon or State Department yet.

However, a statement from the White House this afternoon says the Trump team is getting the ball rolling:

And the transition is officially underway per @Hoffine44 pic.twitter.com/bMucT09RgA

— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) November 17, 2016

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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