President Trump announced Friday that he is naming acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie as his nominee to lead the department.
The surprise nomination caught even Wilkie off guard, as it came in the middle of Trump's speech on prison reform. "He doesn't know this yet," said Trump as he made the announcement, "I'm sorry that I ruined the surprise."
Wilkie has been heading the Veterans Affairs Department since April, when Trump dismissed former VA Secretary David Shulkin. Dr. Ronny Jackson, Trump's previous pick to replace Shulkin, withdrew his nomination one month after Trump selected him amid allegations of rampant workplace misconduct, which he denied.
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