Trump to Nominate Former Rival Ben Carson as HUD Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would be putting up former campaign rival Dr. Ben Carson for the job of secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Although Carson has been going out of his way to keep a lower profile during the transition process, it seemed likely he was to end up serving the new administration in some official capacity. A worthy competitor during the height of primary season, Carson became a Trump loyalist as soon as he ended his own bid for the White House, and had been actively campaigning and otherwise speaking out on behalf of Trump right up until Election Day.
Jobs for which Carson was rumored to be a candidate included the top spots at Health and Human Services, Education, and Veterans Affairs. His selection to run HUD is a bit of a surprise, given his historical areas of professional expertise, but it is known that the plight of inner-city neighborhoods has always been near and dear to Carson���s heart; during the presidential campaign, Carson took Trump on a tour of distressed neighborhoods in Detroit, a visit that included a look at Carson���s own childhood home.
When Carson appeared on Fox News Channel���s Your World with Neil Cavuto last month, he addressed at that time the possibility of his coming to helm HUD in the new administration, as well as his own concerns about America���s urban areas, saying, ���Our inner cities are in terrible shape. And they definitely need some real attention. There have been so many promises made over the last several decades and nothing has been done, so it certainly is something that has been a long-term interest of mine.���
In his statement announcing Carson to the post, Trump said, ���Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities. We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities.���
Dr. Carson must be confirmed by the Senate before his appointment to the position of HUD secretary becomes official.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
