Carson now says he’d consider if Trump makes offer
WASHINGTON — Less than a week after indicating he would not seek a position in President- elect Donald Trump’s administration, retired Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon Ben Carson has seemed to soften that stance, indicating he would give any offer “serious consideration.”
The renowned physician ran an unsuccessful campaign for president this year and then became an early and vocal surrogate for Trump.
Carson’s background in health care made him the center of speculation as a possible secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. His name has also come up as a potential secretary of education.
“Basically, I’ve said my preference is to be outside and to act as an adviser, but if after going through the process they all conclude it would be much better to have mein the Cabinet, I would have to give that very serious consideration,” Carson told Fox News on Sunday. “It’s just not my preference.”
The comments came days after Carson and his aides appeared to throw cold water on the idea of a job in the administration. His business manager and spokesman, Armstrong Williams, told several media outlets last week that Carson was not interested.
“Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience, he’s never run a federal agency,” Williams told The Hill newspaper in Washington. “The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency.”
Trump has focused since the election on building a national security team, but he has also met in recent days with several national education leaders.
Several Marylanders are under consideration for jobs in Trump’s administration. The name of John Bolton, a former ambassador to the United Nations, was floated early as a possible secretary of state. Montgomery County Republican David Bossie is considered a contender to lead the Republican National Committee.
Carson, 65, suspended his presidential campaign in March following a fifth-place finish on Super Tuesday and disappointing results in other early states.