President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence spent Saturday meeting with potential cabinet members at Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, N.J.
The first meeting of the day was with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who according to a Daily Caller source, is Trump’s favorite for secretary of state. A read-out of the meeting from Trump’s transition team said, “They had a substantive and in-depth conversation about world affairs, national security and the future of America. It was an extremely positive and productive conversation.”
Romney said that the approximately hour and a half meeting focused on foreign policy. The same Daily Caller source said that retired Marine Corps General James Mattis is a favorite for secretary of defense. Mattis met with Trump Saturday, and according to Trump’s transition team, “They had an incredibly in-depth conversation on plans for national security.”
Trump was asked by a reporter if Mattis will be secretary of defense and responded, “Well, we think he’s a great guy. He is some great man.”
The president-elect also met with two possible secretaries of education, former head of District of Columbia schools chancellor Michelle Rhee and education activist Betsy DeVos. According to the Trump transition team, both of those meetings focused on school choice.
Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts also met with Trump. The meeting “involved domestic commerce, ingenuity and growth for our country,” according to a press release.
Trump also met with black Christian activist Bob Woodson to discuss “community-based developments and opportunity.” Woodson, an adviser to House Speaker Paul Ryan, said he is under consideration for secretary of housing and urban development.
The president-elect met as well with fast food executive Andy Puzder. His transition team’s press release said they spoke about “regulations, labor reforms, and freeing up small business loans for new and innovative business ventures.” The conservative public relations firm America Rising Squared has been promoting Puzder as a possible secretary of labor.
Trump campaign finance chairman Lew Eisenberg also met with the president-elect and Pence. Eisenberg has been rumored as a possible secretary of commerce. According to a press release they “discussed plans for America First initiatives, bringing Made in America manufacturing to the forefront and improving infrastructure.”
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a billionaire medical doctor and investor, also met with Trump and the vice president-elect. The meeting was about ” innovation in the area of medicine and national medical priorities that need to be addressed in our country.”
Trump said after the meetings to reporters, “These are really great people. These are really, really talented people.” He also alluded to a possible announcement Sunday saying, “You’ll hear some things tomorrow.”