Trump names State Department picks, personal lawyer Alina Habba as counselor

President-elect Donald Trump picked several longtime national security and diplomacy officials for roles at the State Department.

Mr. Trump also named attorney Alina Habba, who represented him in his criminal cases this year, to serve as counselor to the president.

In a statement, Mr. Trump announced that Christoper Landau, who served as his ambassador to Mexico from 2019 to 2021, is his pick for deputy secretary of state. A lawyer turned diplomat, Mr. Landau once clerked for Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, and will work closely with Mr. Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

The president-elect said late Sunday that Mr. Landau is “one of our country’s great lawyers.”

Mr. Trump said that Michael Needham will serve as counsel to the State Department, where he will advise Mr. Rubio. Mr. Needham currently holds top leadership positions at the conservative advocacy groups American Compass and American 2100. He previously led the Heritage Foundation’s advocacy arm.

Also selected for the State Department is Michael Anton, who will serve as director of policy planning.

Only Mr. Landau would need to be confirmed by the Senate: Mr. Needham and Mr. Anton will serve in appointed positions.

Separately, Mr. Trump said Sunday that Ms. Habba will serve as a counselor to the president. He described her as “a tireless advocate for Justice, fierce defender of the rule of law and invaluable advisor to my campaign and transition team.”

He also called her “a role model for women in law and politics.”

Ms. Habba was a member of Mr. Trump’s legal team in the New York hush money case in which the president-elect was convicted on 34 counts of business fraud. Ms. Habba also served as Mr. Trump’s legal spokesperson in his legal cases.