Rudolph W. Giuliani’s star may have fallen far from his days as mayor of New York, but President Trump still has faith in him, naming him Tuesday to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.
Also on the list of 22 appointments are Chris Cox, founder of Bikers for Trump; conservative broadcaster Mark Levin; and Corey Lewandowski, a confidant of Mr. Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The council, established in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks, has become a political football in recent years.
The Biden administration booted most of the members in 2021, reforming it in the vision of then-Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The Trump team then cleaned house in January, firing Mr. Mayorkas’ board. Tuesday’s announcement marks its revival. Its first meeting is slated for early July.
Mr. Giuliani, 81, is a striking choice.
His leadership of New York City in the days after the 2001 attack drew near-universal praise, but a failed presidential bid and controversial moves to support Mr. Trump’s unfounded claims about fraud in the 2020 election dented his reputation.
He has been disbarred from practicing law in New York and Washington in retaliation for those election efforts. Mr. Giuliani now hosts online streaming shows.
A spokesperson for Mr. Giuliani said he was “honored to serve.”
The spokesman said Mr. Giuliani’s experience as mayor, U.S. attorney in southern New York and leading a security consulting firm means that “no one is better prepared to advise and assist this administration” on Homeland Security issues.
The advisory council operates largely behind the scenes and without power, other than what authority the current secretary gives it.
Mr. Mayorkas’ most notable use of his council was to ask it to lead a review of his decision to create a disinformation board within the department. The council said the board should be disbanded.
The new incarnation of the board is chaired by Henry McMaster, the Republican governor of South Carolina.
Mr. Trump and Ms. Noem called the new board an “America first HSAC.”
Among the other members are Mark Dannels, sheriff in Arizona’s Cochise County and head of the National Sheriffs Association’s border committee; former New York Police Department cop and actor Bo Dietl; and Alexei Woltornist, who served as spokesman for Homeland Security in Mr. Trump’s first term.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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