United
States' president-elect, Donald Trump has officially nominated Ben
Carson to be the next secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
Dr. Ben Carson & Donald Trump
Dr. Ben Carson will be Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the president-elect’s
transition team confirmed Monday morning.
“Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about
strengthening communities and families within those communities,” Mr.
Trump said in a statement released by his team.
”We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our
message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities. Ben
shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of
ensuring that this is a Presidency representing all Americans. He is a
tough competitor and never gives up.”
Carson heavily hinted at the HUD position in a Facebook post days earlier, writing, “After
serious discussions with the Trump transition team, I feel that I can
make a significant contribution particularly to making our inner cities
great for everyone.”
However, in a statement released on Monday, Carson was quoted as saying; “I am honored to accept the opportunity to serve our country in the Trump administration.
“I feel that I can make a significant contribution particularly
by strengthening communities that are most in need. We have much work
to do in enhancing every aspect of our nation and ensuring that our
nation’s housing needs are met.”
Carson, who has never held elected office and failed earlier this
year in a bid for the Republican presidential nomination, speculated to
Fox News before Thanksgiving that Mr. Trump’s consideration for the HUD
position was in part due to Carson’s upbringing.
“I grew up in the inner city and have spent a lot of time
there, and have dealt with a lot of patients from that area and
recognize that we cannot have a strong nation if we have weak inner
cities,” he said Tuesday.
The 65-year-old has no previous policy experience in the field of urban development.
Carson, who was raised in an impoverished area of Detroit, later
rose to prominence as a renowned neurosurgeon who drew national
political attention this year when he ran in the Republican primary race
earlier this year.
While his presidential campaign was short-lived, Carson has
continued to make headlines with his early endorsement of Mr. Trump, and
his advisory role with the president-elect.
Carson’s role in the coming administration was unclear as late as
last week. Even the neurosurgeon’s longtime friend and adviser,
Armstrong Williams, told The Hill that Carson wasn’t interested in
running a government agency because he’d never served in a federal
capacity.
“Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience, he’s never run a federal agency,” Armstrong said Tuesday. “The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency.”
Source: CBS News
No comments:
Post a Comment