Trump 'thrilled' to nominate Ben Carson as Housing, Urban Development Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump will nominate "tough" former Republican primary rival Ben Carson as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the transition team announced Monday.
A statement described Carson as a "distinguished national leader who overcame his troubled youth in the inner city of Detroit to become a renowned neurosurgeon."
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In the statement, Trump said he was "thrilled" to nominate Carson, who dropped out of the campaign race in March after a string of disappointing primary finishes on Super Tuesday.
"Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities," Trump said.
"We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities. Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a Presidency representing all Americans. He is a tough competitor and never gives up."
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Despite opposing each other during the campaign, Carson said Trump has a "very cerebral" side that differs from his brash public persona.
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Last week, Trump announced that he planned to nominate former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin as his Treasury secretary and billionaire investor Wilbur Ross to lead the Commerce Department. He chose Betsy DeVos to be secretary of education and Elaine Chao, the wife of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, to be transportation secretary. Trump also has turned to retired general James 'Mad Dog' Mattis to be secretary of defense.
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