Francis Arihilam
Donald Trump’s one-time presidential rival, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, appeared to be a cabinet shoo-in on Tuesday after both men mentioned his possible Housing and Urban Development appointment.
“I am seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as the head of HUD. I’ve gotten to know him well–he’s a greatly talented person who loves people!” the president-elect said on Twitter.
Carson himself indicated on Fox News that the position “was one of the offers that’s on the table.”
“Our inner cities are in terrible shape and they definitely need some real attention,” he told the broadcaster, adding that he had been interested in housing for a long time.
Carson quit the presidential race in March, only to endorse Trump one week later. Trump similarly telegraphed his support for General James Mattis as a potential secretary of defense on Twitter over the weekend.
Trump’s picks so far include ultra-conservative Senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general, hawkish congressman Mike Pompeo as CIA director and retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn as his national security adviser.
