President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday that he is seriously considering appointing retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson as secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
“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!” Trump tweeted. The president-elect is also meeting with Carson Tuesday at Trump Tower.
On Sunday, Carson said on Fox News that it serving in a cabinet role wouldn’t be his ideal role, but if asked he would serve.
“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 me in the cabinet, I would have to give that very serious consideration,” Carson said. The former Republican primary candidate said, “It’s just not my preference.”
It is unclear what experience Carson would bring to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He previously said if he worked in government it would be dealing with health care or education.
Carson said, “Well, there is no question I have very strong opinions about health care and how it should be returned to the private sector, and you – the patients and the physicians – should have a quality experience, not be forced into something.”
“And I also feel very strongly about education. I mean, you educate people, and you give them the keys to freedom. It doesn’t matter where they came from or what their background is, they write their own ticket,” Carson added.
Trump on Saturday met with Paul Ryan adviser Bob Woodson, who said he is under consideration for HUD secretary.