Giuliani removes himself from State Department consideration
ASSOCIATED PRESS
On Friday, Dec. 9, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Giuliani has removed his name from consideration for a cabinet position in the Trump administration.
WASHINGTON >> Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani formally withdrew from consideration for a post in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration Friday, putting an end to his ill-fated bid to lead the State Department.
Giuliani’s prospects to serve as secretary of state had already dimmed, in part because of questions about his overseas business ties. Trump is now seriously considering Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson for the post, with Mitt Romney still in the mix.
The deliberations have divided Trump’s senior advisers, with some bluntly warning in public that tapping Romney would anger the president-elect’s loyal supporters. Trump himself has sent mixed messages about Romney in recent days, according to people who have spoken with him, suggesting in some conversations that Romney isn’t getting the job and saying in others that he is still in contention.
The president-elect is said to be intrigued by the prospect of filling the diplomatic post with an international businessman. Tillerson has led Exxon since 2006, a period when record high oil prices and record corporate profits helped make it the most valuable public company in the world. He rose to prominence through the company’s Russian energy business and was awarded Russia’s Order of Friendship last year.
Giuliani, a loyal Trump supporter throughout the presidential race, quickly emerged as a top contender for secretary of state. But his financial ties, as well as his public campaigning for the job, are said to have given Trump pause.
The former mayor said he removed himself from consideration on Nov. 29.
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“The whole thing was becoming kind of very confusing and very difficult for the president-elect,” Giuliani said on Fox News. “My desire to be in the Cabinet was great, but not that great.”
After leaving the government, Giuliani advised foreign political figures and worked for lobbying and security firms whose clients have had complicated relationships with the U.S. government. While not personally involved in lobbying, Giuliani spent years at firms that represented governments and multinational companies. He also made speeches demanding the State Department remove an Iranian opposition group from a U.S. terror blacklist.
In a statement Friday, Trump said Giuliani would have been an “outstanding member of the Cabinet in several roles.” Incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, who is seen inside the transition team as favoring Romney, said the former mayor was vetted for possible conflicts and “passed with flying colors.”
Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s senior adviser, said Giuliani’s decision to remove himself from consideration was a “mutual decision” with the president-elect. Conway has been an outspoken critic of Romney, publicly warning Trump that his supporters would feel betrayed if he tapped the 2012 Republican nominee for the prominent and powerful Cabinet post.
Romney had blasted Trump as a “fraud” who was playing the American public “for suckers.” But he emerged from a private dinner with Trump last week — their second meeting since the election — full of praise for the president-elect.
Still, Trump moved to expand his pool of contenders following that meeting. He met this week with Tillerson in New York this week and has also had discussions with Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker and John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Some Trump advisers had hoped Giuliani would be interested in being nominated for Homeland Security secretary, where they believed his financial ties would not be as much of a concern. But Giuliani made clear he was only interested in the diplomatic post.
Friday’s announcement means several of Trump’s most ardent campaign supporters will not be joining his administration. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has said he doesn’t plan to have a formal role. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was initially seen as a contender for a few posts, but is expected to be left empty-handed.
13 responses to “Giuliani removes himself from State Department consideration”
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Who is going to be SOS…can’t wait to find out!
One thing for sure the SOS needs to DRAIN THE SOS SWAMP!
January 20, 2017 #MAGA
AHA, the connection between Tillerson, Exxon Mobil and their Russian oil business, and Trump. No wonder Trump wants to nominate Tillerson for Secretary of State, and wants to be buddies with Putin and the Russian oil oligarchs.
Why is MSM not reporting on this…Bias coverage? Reporting on Obamas field trip, trying to RALLY Trump supporters EMOTIONS…Redirecting our ATTENTION from Trumps Russian Dealings, using the DIVISIVE Barry investigation as a distraction??? Don’t believe the HYPE, MSM are paid by Trump and his suporters. #MAGA
Trump’s administration is now predictable. Smoke and misdirection, with their ultimate goal of Tillerson.
And now that Trump expects the Russian hack release, he will look for ways to use this appointment, Flynn and climate change as a pivots.
All I can say is thank God Guiliani took his name out, such a mental case. As for Romney, Trump is just playing with him and setting him up for a big payback.
Are you saying that it was ok that Rudy the mental case was welcomed by the Chump during his campaign? Now that he is PE Rudy’s as- is gras-, just remember birds of a feather flock together.
Too much of Clinton Foundation issues in Giuliani. And their pick for EPA is obviously a bargaining chip to get what they really want confirmed.
Trump will likely not hesitate to throw people under the bus if it suits him.
So what else is new, Democrat or GOP?
It doesn’t matter…CORRECT!!! But watch US tear apart America like it does matter. “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” Maya Angelou #MAGA
Although he won the bat___t crazy competition, he knew that he couldn’t win the swimsuit competition.
Sees writing on wall so withdraws. Will go back to cross dressing in New York.
Just the right prescriptions will get Giuliani back on track. It’s what they call a chemical imbalance caused by defective genes.
Have you noticed that most of Trump’s nominations are not current or former politicians, but business people like himself. The politicians are the problems we face with this government. Now, that’s draining the swamp. Go Trump!
……..hope he picks UN Ambassador John Bolten! Why ? Because this is his expertise and he can skip through all the formalities, because knows all the foreign leaders around the world!
Yeah! We all get it,that Rudy was a Loyal friend of President DJT. And took many hits from the MSM for being President Elect Trump’s Friend.
Oh! BTW…..Did you see that interview he had with Mark Cuban? It was just Hilarious! Haaaaaaaaa! Maybe I’ll play it on Youtube,when I need a laugh! lol.
Because of that Loyalty? Does not mean Rudy Giuliani qualifies to be the USSOS. President Trump is going after the Smartest minds in deal making..MAGA! Right!…. And Please,please ,please, NO MITT ROMNEY either! Please!
Maybe he was over looked for heading a Dept, he qualified for??
I would have been more comfortable with Rudy leading Homeland Security or TSA. Something he has experience ,after 911.