Battle over Trump’s secretary of state continues

Battle over Trump’s secretary of state continues. November. 30, 2016 07:18. by Seung-Heon Lee ddr@donga.com. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is faced with some cacophony within his transition team regarding his choice for secretary of state, which thought to be the most honorable post of cabinet. Trump initially considered, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as his secretary of state, but his confidantes recommended other options, such as former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, to fill the position as Romney criticized Trump during the election campaign.

The Wall Street Journal said, “Appointment of core cabinet members has been delayed due to escalating feud over Trump supporters in a transition team who want to influence the decision of Trump.” Kellyanne Conway, who is a Trump’s pick for the White House chief of staff, met Monday with CNN and said, “It is breathtaking to receive messages from Trump supporters who feel they are betrayed that Trump is considering one of his most vicious critics, Romney, for the coveted secretary of state.” In the meantime, creating a wedge against hard-liners, Vice President-elect Mike Pence and some advisors are supporting Romney, who was a Republican presidential candidate in 2012, with an increased focus on stability.

While Trump has been stuck in the middle as battle heats up between hard-liners and soft-liners over his choice for secretary of state, retired Army General David Petraeus, who also served as CIA director, emerged as an alternative choice for secretary of state. Trump met with Petraeus at Trump Tower in New York. After the meeting, Petraeus told reporters that he had “Very good conversation with Trump for about an hour and we will see where it goes from here.” Trump twitted that he was impressed.

However, if appointed, Petraeus could be another addition of military veterans to Trump’s team as Trump chose retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn to become national security advisor and is considering James Mattis, former head of U.S. Central Command, as secretary of defense. On top of that, Petraeus resigned as director of CIA after sex scandal. Petraeus was promoted to director of CIA from head of Central Command in 2011, but resigned after his sex scandal with Paula Broadwell who was writing his biography. Trump is expected to meet Tuesday with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, another Republican contender for secretary of state, and have a meeting with Romney.