Dec. 9, 2016

 

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is no longer under consideration to serve as secretary of state under Donald Trump, the president-elect tweeted Saturday morning after his transition team announced it Friday.

CNN reported Giuliani has been told he is no longer in contention for the top U.S. diplomat post, but the incoming administration said Giuliani had pulled himself out of the running. Giuliani had been urged to consider other positions, CNN reported, but the former mayor said he was not interested.

In an interview Friday afternoon with Fox News, Giuliani said he was not interested in any position other than secretary of state. He also slammed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is one contender for the position.

Giuliani said Romney "went over the line" in statements against Trump during the campaign, and said he doesn't think Romney should serve in any cabinet position.

Other contenders include retired Adm. James Stavridis, Sen. Bob Corker, former Ford CEO Alan Mulall, and Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson.

The transition team said in a statement that Giuliani withdrew on Nov. 29.

 

Giuliani did not just pull himself out of the running for secretary of the state but also for any position in the administration, the transition team said.

"Rudy would have been an outstanding member of the Cabinet in several roles, but I fully respect and understand his reasons for remaining in the private sector," said President-elect Trump. 

In New York City, Giuliani gained praise for overseeing a drop in violent crime and for his handling of the Sept. 11 attacks -- earning the nickname “America’s Mayor” -- but he left office with a reputation as one of the most divisive chief executives in the city’s history. 

Trump had few more loyal -- and combative -- allies throughout his presidential campaign than the 72-year-old former mayor and federal prosecutor. Giuliani vouched for Trump in the face of sexual-misconduct allegations, saying they didn’t ring true; criticized the Iran nuclear deal; and backed Trump’s claims that President Barack Obama founded Islamic State.

Critics raised questions about how Giuliani’s fiery temperament would fit the role of a diplomat. Senator Rand Paul, a Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee who’s wary of foreign entanglements, raised concern about the former mayor’s work for foreign governments and companies and his history of giving paid speeches after he left the New York mayor’s office in December 2001.

After CNN broke the story, the Trump transition team released the following statement:

President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced that during a meeting with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani held on November 29, 2016, Mayor Giuliani removed his name from consideration for a position in the new administration.

 

President-elect Trump said, "Rudy Giuliani is an extraordinarily talented and patriotic American. I will always be appreciative of his 24/7 dedication to our campaign after I won the primaries and for his extremely wise counsel. He is and continues to be a close personal friend, and as appropriate, I will call upon him for advice and can see an important place for him in the administration at a later date."

Mayor Giuliani will remain a Vice Chairman of the Presidential Transition Team led by Vice President-elect Mike Pence, which is making historic progress in bringing highly qualified people into the administration.

 

"Rudy would have been an outstanding member of the Cabinet in several roles, but I fully respect and understand his reasons for remaining in the private sector," said President-elect Trump.

 

In explaining his withdrawal Mayor Giuliani said:

 

"I joined the campaign because I love my country and because having known Donald Trump as a friend for 28 years and observing what he has been able to accomplish, I had no doubt he would be a great President. This is not about me; it is about what is best for the country and the new administration. Before I joined the campaign I was very involved and fulfilled by my work with my law firm and consulting firm, and I will continue that work with even more enthusiasm. From the vantage point of the private sector, I look forward to helping the President-elect in any way he deems necessary and appropriate."

 

Reince Priebus, incoming White House Chief of Staff to the President-elect, said that the former Mayor “was vetted by our team for any possible conflicts and passed with flying colors." He also said "the team appreciates Rudy’s contributions to the victory and considers him a close friend and advisor."

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/new-york-giuliani-trump/2016/12/09/id/763185/?ns_mail_uid=3262027&ns_mail_job=1699305_12092016&s=al&dkt_nbr=eobkxtdg