Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she'd be happy to serve in a Donald Trump administration, but he wouldn't ever have to tell her, "Your fired" — she'd do it herself.
Palin, in an interview aired Sunday on CNN's
"State of the Union," said she'd like be energy secretary "'cause energy is my baby" in oil-rich Alaska.
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"If I were head of that, I would get rid of it and I would let the states start having more control over the lands that are within their boundaries, and the people who are affected by the developments within their states," Palin said. "It would be a short-term job but … it would be really great to have someone who knows energy, and is pro-responsible development to be in charge."
Addressing President Barack Obama's name change of Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America, back to its native Alaskan name Denali last week, Palin admitted the issue is divisive even among Alaskans. She has a niece named McKinley and one named Denali, she said.
The name of the state park was changed long ago, Palin said, "so I thought that's good enough."
But the bigger deal, she said was how she felt Obama was wasting time on what appeared to be a "tourism jaunt," rather than focusing on the bigger issues.
"The Middle East is a tinderbox, our economy still sucks," she said.
Then there are the Russian energy claims and China's naval moves off Alaska's coast.
"How about while he was up here, he, as a president, carried a big stick, instead of a selfie stick?" she said.
Palin also said she'd like to see Ohio Gov. John Kasich support a ban in his state for women having abortions because they are carrying a baby with Down Syndrome.
As a mother of a child with Down Syndrome, Palin said she understands how mothers are frightenened they won't be able to properly raise a special needs child, but added that the benefits outweigh all those worries.
"Should it be legal for a mom to snuff out a baby based on one extra chromosome?" she asked.
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