Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a prominent member of President-elect Donald Trump's inner circle, made it abundantly clear Monday that he is interested in becoming the next secretary of state.
In an hour-long speech and question-and-answer session on foreign policy Monday night in Washington, D.C., Giuliani sought to display a command of facts about the nation's military and financial entanglements around the globe.
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Donald Trump's rumored picks for his administration
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Donald Trump's rumored picks for his administration
Trump named Jeff Sessions his pick for U.S. attorney general. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Trump named Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn his pick for National Security Adviser. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Newt Gingrich is rumored to be among Trump's top picks for secretary of state. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Mitt Romney has reportedly been in discussions for secretary of state.
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Ted Cruz was believed to be under consideration for Trump's attorney general.
(Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Steven Mnuchin is rumored to be Trump's top pick for Treasury Secretary. (KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images)
Bob Corker is also rumored to be among Trump's picks for secretary of state. REUTERS/Mike Theiler
Stephen Hadley is rumored to be in the running for secretary of defense. REUTERS/Larry Downing
Jim Talent is rumored to also be in the running for secretary of defense. REUTERS/Tim Parker
Rudy Giuliani was also rumored to be among Trump's top picks for attorney general. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
Forrest Lucas is rumored to be Trump's top pick for Interior Secretary. ( Amanda Edwards/WireImage)
Robert Grady is also being eyed for the Interior Secretary position. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
Donald Trump Jr. is also said to have interest in the Interior Secretary position. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)
Sam Brownback is also one of the several names being considered for Agriculture Secretary. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Billionaire Wilbur Ross is a rumored choice for Commerce Secretary. FINANCE-WLROSS/ REUTERS/Tim Chong
Daniel Dimicco, a Trump Trade Advisor is also on the possible list for Commerce Secretary. REUTERS/Chris Keane
Rick Scott is considered to be a top contender for Health and Human Services Secretary. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo
Jeff Miller's name has been bounced around many times for the Veterans Affairs Secretary position. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Myron Bell who has been a part of Trump's transition team is rumored to be the top pick for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator position.
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Representative Tom Price of Georgia is being considered for the position of secretary of health and human services.
(Photo by Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
John Bolton is yet another rumored pick for secretary of state.
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Giulani's public audition to become the nation's diplomat came as a surprise to some observers, given that his credentials are largely in the law enforcement and criminal justice fields. He explicitly ruled out becoming attorney general.
Speaking to the audience at a Wall Street Journal-hosted dinner, Giuliani indicated that Trump's top foreign policy priority will be to destroy ISIS, and he implied that broader Middle East peace and stability would be a lesser priority.
Giuliani said that Trump can be expected to display a greater show of military force as a deterrent against China and raised the likelihood of the U.S. declaring China a currency manipulator, a technical designation that would be certain to increase tensions.
However, he also said Trump's administration will want to reset relations with both China and Russia's Vladimir Putin, with whom Trump spoke earlier Monday.
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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus address supporters during his election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 9, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence attends a campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. November 7, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Campaign CEO Stephen Bannon departs the offices of Republican president-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, New York, U.S. November 11, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Governor Chris Christie speaks to supporters in West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. January 31, 2016. REUTERS/Brian C. Frank/File Photo
Former candidate Ben Carson arrives to attend the third and final 2016 presidential campaign debate between Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., October 19, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani leaves the offices of Republican President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, New York, U.S., November 11, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich
Defense Intelligence Agency director U.S. Army Lt. General Michael Flynn testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on "Worldwide Threats" in Washington February 4, 2014. REUTERS/Gary Cameron/File photo TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Al) speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 18, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Republican President-elect Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York, New York, U.S., November 11, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Son of Republican President-elect Donald Trump Eric Trump gives the thumbs up as he arrives at Trump Tower in New York, New York, U.S., November 11, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Donald Trump Jr. sits between his wife Vanessa (L) and his brother Eric Trump (R) during the third and final debate between Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., October 19, 2016. REUTERS/Rick Wilking
Jared Kushner (L) and Stephen Bannon stand by as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Canton, Ohio, U.S., September 14, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
PayPal co-founder and Facebook board member Peter Thiel delivers his speech on the U.S. presidential election at the National Press Club in Washington, U.S., October 31, 2016. REUTERS/Gary Cameron
Steven Mnuchin, Chairman and Co-CEO of Dune Capital Management LP and Chairman and CEO of OneWest Bank Group LLC
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Anthony Scaramucci, co-managing partner and founder of Skybridge Capital speaks at the opening of the annual Skybridge Alternatives Conference (SALT) in Las Vegas May 6, 2015. REUTERS/Rick Wilking
Newly elected Congressmen Lou Barletta (R-PA) (R) and Tim Scott (R-SC) (C) arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 17, 2010. The new members of the upcoming 112th Congress are going through orientation. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS)
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 20, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 21, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
U.S. Representative Chris Collins (R-NY) flashes a thumbs-up before delivering his nomination speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 19, 2016. REUTERS/Jim Young
U.S. Representative Devin Nunes (R-CA) talks to reporters as he walks from the offices of House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) (not pictured) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, October 15, 2013. Republicans in the House of Representatives failed to reach internal consensus on Tuesday on how to break an impasse on the federal budget that could soon result in an economically damaging default on the country's debt. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS MEDIA)
Campaign Communications Director Hope Hicks departs the offices of Republican president-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, New York, U.S. November 11, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
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"If Rudy wants it [State] he'll get it," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, also a Trump confidante, told Fox News Monday.
Giuliani, who often introduced Trump at campaign rallies when he wasn't vigorously defending him in TV interviews, left little doubt Monday night that he wants to run Trump's State Department.
Trump was also considering former United Nations Ambassador and onetime-Assistant Secretary of State John Bolton for the job, according to a transition team source, who said Bolton would likely get another top White House job if Giuliani is tapped for the State Department.
Bolton was an early, enthusiastic supporter of Trump's. He was known for being a fierce opponent of President Barack Obama's deal to curtail Iran's nuclear ambitions, once writing an op-ed calling on the U.S. to bomb Iran.
