Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson hinted at a coming departure from the Trump administration.
Although Carson did not definitively rule out staying on a second term if President Trump is re-elected, he said he is interested in returning to the private sector where he feels he can have greater impact on the political initiatives he supports.
“I would be interested in returning to the private sector, because I think you have just as much influence, maybe more, there,” Carson told Newsmax on Monday, after saying he would definitely stay on for the remainder of Trump’s first term.
Following the interview, HUD issued a statement clarifying Carson’s position. The secretary “always stand[s] ready to serve this great President and the United States of America,” the statement read.
Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, joined Trump’s administration in 2017 after he faced off against Trump and 15 others in the 2016 GOP primary contest.
