Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker's name is in the mix of potential secretary of state appointees, but he said Thursday he thinks it's more likely he'll end up helping a Trump administration continuing in the role he already holds.
"President-elect Trump will make those decisions with people around him," the Tennessee Republican told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program. "I think the likely role I'll play on this is chairing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and having hearings with his nominee. It's nice to be mentioned in the mix, but it's certainly their decision to make."
Corker said he first came onto his committee "as a guy who used to build shopping centers and was a mayor of a city 10 years ago," but he threw himself into it to broaden himself as a senator.
"Obviously, I've traveled the world extensively," said Corker. "All day long I meet with leaders who come in from other countries and deal with issues that our country faces relative to our national interests, and it's been invaluable.
"But again, there are so many people that someone like President Trump will have to choose from. It's nice to be discussed and to be in the mix possibly, but there are a lot of people that have developed expertise around foreign policy that I know he can choose from."
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said this week he believes two others in the mix, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and ex-U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, would have difficulty gaining Senate approval, where Corker would be more qualified, and the Tennessee lawmaker said he appreciates Paul's "kind comments."
However, since it's likely he'll remain as the Foreign Relations Committee chairman during confirmation hearings, Corker said it's not proper for him to begin "handicapping who will be nominated."
He also would not comment on reports that South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is under consideration for the post.
"She is a star. I know her and she's someone that certainly has a bright future," said Corker. "Again, I don't want to handicap on other people."
He said he hopes the spot goes to the person who cares deeply about the United States and who would help keep America's military from being in the battlefield or will lessen the chances that happens.
"It's a big job. It's an important job, and if you look back, President [Barack] Obama really didn't put his national security team in place until Dec. 1," said Corker. "There's a lot of water that's going to go under the bridge here, and I look forward to playing a role in this in whatever capacity."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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