Trump says loyal supporter Giuliani won’t be in cabinet
President-elect claims ex-NY mayor would have been 'outstanding' in administration role, but respects his alleged decision to remain in private sector
NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that outspoken former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, a key surrogate on the campaign trail, would not join his incoming administration after he takes office next month.
Giuliani had been a candidate for the most prestigious cabinet job of secretary of state but subsequently came under scrutiny in the US media over business dealings that could pose conflicts of interest.
“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,” the president-elect said in a statement.
“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,” he added.
Reince Priebus, Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff, said Giuliani was vetted by the transition team for possible conflicts and “passed with flying colors.”
Trump is yet to announce his pick to lead the State Department, and on Sunday, top adviser Kellyanne Conway said the president-elect is expanding his pool of candidates for the job as the nation’s top diplomat.
“There’s not a finite list of candidates” for secretary of state, Conway told reporters. “More than four. Who knows how many finalists there will be?”
The remark came a week after Trump aides confirmed that he had settled on four finalists for the post, with Giuliani among them.
After Trump’s upset victory last month, the former mayor made no secret of his desire for the secretary of state position, and on Friday said that he now looked forward to continuing to work in his law and consulting firms.
“This is not about me; it is about what is best for the country and the new administration,” said Giuliani in the statement released by Trump’s transition team.
“From the vantage point of the private sector, I look forward to helping the president-elect in any way he deems necessary and appropriate,” he added.
Trump praised the 72-year-old Giuliani as an “extraordinarily talented and patriotic American” and that he would “always be appreciative of his 24/seven dedication to his election campaign.
The former mayor will remain a vice chairman of the presidential transition team, which is chaired by Vice President-elect Mike Pence.