Rudy Giuliani makes strong play to become Trump's secretary of state
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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Trump named Jeff Sessions his pick for U.S. attorney general. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/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.
(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
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.
(Photo by Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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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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"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.
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