Wilbur Ross, the billionaire investor considered the "king of bankruptcy" for buying beaten-down companies with the potential to deliver profits, is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for commerce secretary, a senior transition official said.

The official isn't authorised to publicly discuss the matter and requested anonymity.

Trump met with Ross on Sunday at his New Jersey golf club.

Reputed by Forbes to be worth nearly 3 billion US dollars, Ross would represent the interests of US businesses domestically and abroad as the head at Commerce.

His department would be among those tasked with carrying out the Trump administration's stated goal of protecting US workers and challenging decades of globalisation that largely benefited multinational corporations.

With a Florida home down the road from Trump's Mar-a-Lago retreat, the 78-year-old Ross played a role in crafting and selling the president-elect's tax-cut and infrastructure plans.

Ross has suggested that much of America is disgruntled because the economy has left middle-class workers behind and says Trump represents a shift to a "less politically correct direction".

POOL

Bedminster, New Jersey - 20 November 2016

1. Wilbur Ross arrives at clubhouse; UPSOUND (English) Reporter: "Are you interested in being Commerce Secretary?"; UPSOUND (English) Wilbur Ross: "Time will tell."

2. Trump and Pence meet Ross; UPSOUND (English) Reporter: "Is Mr. Ross a candidate for commerce secretary, sir?"; UPSOUND (English) Donald Trump, President-elect: "Commerce Secretary. That's what we're looking for." ++ BEGINS ON PREVIOUS SHOT++

Wilbur Ross, the billionaire investor considered the "king of bankruptcy" for buying beaten-down companies with the potential to deliver profits, is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for commerce secretary, a senior transition official said.

The official isn't authorized to publicly discuss the matter and requested anonymity.

Trump met with Ross on Sunday at his New Jersey golf club.

Reputed by Forbes to be worth nearly $3 billion, Ross would represent the interests of U.S. businesses domestically and abroad as the head at Commerce. His department would be among those tasked with carrying out the Trump administration's stated goal of protecting U.S. workers and challenging decades of globalization that largely benefited multinational corporations.

With a Florida home down the road from Trump's Mar-a-Lago retreat, the 78-year-old Ross played a role in crafting and selling the president-elect's tax-cut and infrastructure plans. Ross has suggested that much of America is disgruntled because the economy has left middle-class workers behind and says Trump represents a shift to a "less politically correct direction."

POOL

Bedminster, New Jersey - 20 November 2016

1. Wilbur Ross arrives at clubhouse UPSOUND (English) Reporter: "Are you interested in being Commerce Secretary?" UPSOUND (English) Wilbur Ross: "Time will tell."

2 . Trump and Pence meet Ross UPSOUND (English) Reporter: "Is Mr. Ross a candidate for commerce secretary, sir?" UPSOUND (English) Donald Trump, President-elect: "Commerce Secretary. That's what we're looking for."

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus067486

Wilbur Ross, the billionaire investor considered the "king of bankruptcy" for buying beaten-down companies with the potential to deliver profits, is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for commerce secretary, a senior transition official said.

The official isn't authorized to publicly discuss the matter and requested anonymity.

Trump met with Ross on Sunday at his New Jersey golf club.

Reputed by Forbes to be worth nearly $3 billion, Ross would represent the interests of U.S. businesses domestically and abroad as the head at Commerce. His department would be among those tasked with carrying out the Trump administration's stated goal of protecting U.S. workers and challenging decades of globalization that largely benefited multinational corporations.

With a Florida home down the road from Trump's Mar-a-Lago retreat, the 78-year-old Ross played a role in crafting and selling the president-elect's tax-cut and infrastructure plans. Ross has suggested that much of America is disgruntled because the economy has left middle-class workers behind and says Trump represents a shift to a "less politically correct direction."

POOL

Bedminster, New Jersey - 20 November 2016

1. Wilbur Ross arrives at clubhouse UPSOUND (English) Reporter: "Are you interested in being commerce secretary?" UPSOUND (English) Wilbur Ross: "Time will tell."

2 . Trump and Pence meet Ross UPSOUND (English) Reporter: "Is Mr. Ross a candidate for commerce secretary, sir?" UPSOUND (English) Donald Trump, President-elect: "Commerce Secretary. That's what we're looking for."

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen prominent charter school advocate Betsy DeVos as his secretary of education, one of the first women selected for top-level administration posts in his new administration.

The Cabinet-level position requires Senate confirmation.

The DeVos choice faced criticism even before it was formally announced Wednesday.

Conservatives warned that DeVos, a longtime Republican donor, previously supported the Common Core education standards that Trump railed against during the campaign.

Trump, who was at his Palm Beach estate Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday, called DeVos "a brilliant and passionate education advocate."

DeVos, from Michigan, is a longtime advocate for charter schools and school vouchers. She currently leads the advocacy group, American Federation for Children, and sits on the board of the Jeb Bush-led Foundation for Excellence in Education.

DeVos said in her own statement, "The status quo in education is not acceptable."

DeVos was slow to warm to Trump.

She told The Associated Press in July, "A lot of the things he has said are very off-putting and concerning."

On Saturday, she met with the president-elect at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.

POOL

Bedminster, New Jersey - 19 November 2016

+++VIDEO IS FROM SATURDAY, NOV. 19, 2016+++

1. Trump Education Secretary Nominee Betsy DeVos walking to a meeting with Donald Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus067451

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen prominent charter school advocate Betsy DeVos as his secretary of education, one of the first women selected for top-level administration posts in his new administration.

The Cabinet-level position requires Senate confirmation.

The DeVos choice faced criticism even before it was formally announced Wednesday.

Conservatives warned that DeVos, a longtime Republican donor, previously supported the Common Core education standards that Trump railed against during the campaign.

Trump, who was at his Palm Beach estate Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday, called DeVos "a brilliant and passionate education advocate."

DeVos, from Michigan, is a longtime advocate for charter schools and school vouchers. She currently leads the advocacy group, American Federation for Children, and sits on the board of the Jeb Bush-led Foundation for Excellence in Education.

DeVos said in her own statement, "The status quo in education is not acceptable."

DeVos was slow to warm to Trump.

She told The Associated Press in July, "A lot of the things he has said are very off-putting and concerning."

On Saturday, she met with the president-elect at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.

POOL

Bedminster, New Jersey - 19 November 2016

+++VIDEO IS FROM SATURDAY, NOV. 19, 2016+++

1. Trump Education Secretary Nominee Betsy DeVos walking to a meeting with Donald Trump at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey