NEW YORK, Nov. 15 (UPI) — Rudy Giuliani is the leading candidate for secretary of state in President-elect Donald Trump‘s Cabinet, people familiar with the situation said.
Giuliani, former mayor of New York City and an enthusiastic supporter of Trump’s presidential campaign, told an election forum Monday, “First of all, I won’t be attorney general.” In an interview with The Wall Street Journal Monday, he responded to a question about his possible nomination by saying “One never knows.”
When asked if there was a better candidate for secretary of state than John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Giuliani said, “Maybe me, I don’t know.”
CBS News, citing a source within the Trump campaign staff, also reported Giuliani is the foremost contender to be Trump’s nominee for the top diplomatic position.
Bolton has a long resume of federal government service, as well as a hawkish stance, which included advocating bombing Iran in 2015 to halt its nuclear development.
Deliberations over the Trump Cabinet are expected to increase this week after Vice president-elect Mike Pence, chief of Trump’s transition team, arrives at Trump’s New York City headquarters Tuesday.
