Bitter sniping among Donald Trump's transition team staff over whether former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani should be tapped for secretary of state is "healthy" for the nomination process, former Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan tells Newsmax TV.
"I think what you're seeing is you're seeing a healthy disagreement among his transition team leadership," Hoekstra said Monday to J.D. Hayworth on "America Talks Live."
"Mitt Romney obviously I believe is a very talented individual, but he also spoke out very aggressively against Mr. Trump. So within the Trump camp you have two factions. One of them says his critical comments of Mr. Trump disqualify him. Others who are saying wait a minute this is a talented guy.
"We need to grow our base, we need to put in place people who can move your agenda forward, we ought to make room for Mitt Romney in this team."
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But Hoekstra acknowledged Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway seemed to be hanging Romney, a two-time GOP presidential candidate, out to dry when she said complained he was "nothing but awful" to Trump during the presidential campaign.
"I don't think that was the intent when they started this process, but that is where they may end up — that Mr. Trump wanted to engage with Mr. Romney, was serious about potentially putting him into the cabinet, but recognized that it was just a step too far," Hoekstra said.
Last year, Romney labeled Trump "a fake" and "a fraud," while Trump ripped Romney as a "choker" who "walks like a penguin."
Trump has done very well so far in nominating bright talent — including retired Gen. Mike Flynn for defense secretary, Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general, Betsy DeVos for education secretary, Hoekstra believes.
"Absolutely. The choices that Donald Trump has made today I think are very, very good and solid choices, consistent with his philosophy," he said.
"The names that are being bandied around for secretary of defense, secretary of commerce, secretary of state, they're all good people and they all have different talents, they bring certain things to their jobs.
"Ultimately it will be tested in 2017 whether this is a group that can work together and whether they can implement Donald Trumps' agenda."
Hoekstra also believes the mainstream media blows out of proportion any sign of dissension within Trump's inner circle.
"They want to make this guy look like a bungler. They've tried to do it for the last 12 months. The American people didn't buy it.
"Let's give the president-elect a little bit of slack and let's see exactly where he is and what happens when he becomes president at noon on Jan. 20."
Hoekstra himself has been rumored to be on the list of possible candidates to head the Central Intelligence Agency — and he'd said he would "absolutely" serve if he was tapped by Trump.
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