Guiliani Made His Choice. He Still Is A Good Man

Giuliani: I turned down two Cabinet offers

By MADELINE CONWAY

 

12/13/16 10:19 AM EST

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had lobbied publicly to be Donald Trump’s secretary of state, said Tuesday that the president-elect offered him two “Cabinet-level positions” in government that he turned down because he “didn’t want to do it.”

He declined to name the positions but acknowledged to CNN’s Chris Cuomo that those two “very high” positions did not include the top job at State. Giuliani had been an early contender for that post, and was unusually public about his attempt to court it, but the transition team said last week that he was no longer in the running.

Trump officially announced Tuesday that he intends to nominate Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil, to lead the State Department. On CNN, Giuliani signaled his approval of the appointment, though when asked he did not say whether he thinks he would have been better himself.

Giuliani also maintained that he chose to take himself out of the running for secretary of state and dismissed the suggestion that Trump has been inadequately loyal to him. Giuliani was a top surrogate for Trump throughout his improbable campaign, one of the few to go on TV the weekend after the “Access Hollywood” tape dropped in October.

“As far as I'm concerned, he fulfilled whatever loyalty that entails,” Giuliani said, referencing the two other job offers he said he received. “I mean, it was my own decision not to do it, largely because of my personal life.”ly announced Tuesday that he intends to nominate Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil, to lead the State Department. On CNN, Giuliani signaled his approval of the appointment, though when asked he did not say whether he thinks he would have been better himself.

Giuliani also maintained that he chose to take himself out of the running for secretary of state and dismissed the suggestion that Trump has been inadequately loyal to him. Giuliani was a top surrogate for Trump throughout his improbable campaign, one of the few to go on TV the weekend after the “Access Hollywood” tape dropped in October.

“As far as I'm concerned, he fulfilled whatever loyalty that entails,” Giuliani said, referencing the two other job offers he said he received. “I mean, it was my own decision not to do it, largely because of my personal life.”