Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani didn’t feel he was “necessary” to President-elect Trump’s Cabinet and turned down two different roles offered to him, he said Tuesday.
Speaking on CNN, Giuliani said he pulled himself out of consideration for secretary of state and other Cabinet-level positions in late November in order to focus on his consulting business.
“He had enough good people to chose from, I wasn’t necessary,” Giuliani said. “If I thought I was necessary, I would have stayed in.”
Giuliani said Trump offered him two different roles, but wouldn’t say which positions. He did confirm secretary of state wasn’t one of them.
Remaining a private citizen and working in consulting is just fine with Giuliani.
“I am totally comfortable with being out of it, I have an awful lot to do,” he said. “It would have been a big sacrifice to do it so I had to make a choice early on.”
Giuliani said Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, Trump’s choice for secretary of state, will be a solid pick for the nation’s top diplomat.
Tillerson was a late entry into the secretary of state sweepstakes, but his business ties with foreign governments is seen by Trump as a potential boon for the country. However, critics, including some Republicans, have slammed him for his close ties to Russia.
Giuliani said that part of his resume shouldn’t be too concerning.
“You’re just looking at one aspect of his career,” Giuliani said. “He’s the head of one of the largest companies in the world, he has relationships all over the world. It wouldn’t be unusual for someone in the energy industry to have a relationship with Russia.”
