Detroit native and former presidential candidate Ben Carson, whose close friend said the retired neurosurgeon would not accept a cabinet position because “he has no government experience,” is a top candidate for HUD secretary under President-elect Donald Trump.
“I am seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as the head of HUD,” Trump tweeted at 12:10 p.m. today. “I’ve gotten to know him well–he’s a greatly talented person who loves people!”
Trump’s tweet comes one week after Carson’s close friend, Armstrong Williams, said the Republican was not interested in serving as secretary of Health and Human Services and would only advise the White House unofficially.
“Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience, he’s never run a federal agency,” Williams told The Hill. “The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency.”
But on Sunday, Carson told Fox News Channel’s “Fox Report Weekend” that he is open to a position in the Trump administration.
In November 2015, Trump compared Carson’s self-described “pathological temper” to an incurable “child molester.”
Motor City Muckraker couldn’t reach Carson for comment.
Although Carson lacks government experience, he may be a good choice for Detroit, where he grew up. Detroit receives about $37 million a year from HUD for housing programs.
What’s unclear is whether Carson will take the job.
Check back for updates.
Trump ‘seriously considering’ Detroit native Ben Carson as HUD secretary added by Steve Neavling on
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Steve Neavling
Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.
