President-elect Donald Trump is making a last-minute push to appoint a Hispanic to his Cabinet as he faces criticism his incoming administration lacks diversity, Politico reports.
Trump, who had been highly critical of Mexican immigrants during the presidential race, has met with two Hispanic politicians at his Mar-a-Lago resort to discuss filling the agriculture secretary post.
Dr. Elsa Murano, a former U.S. agriculture undersecretary, who is Cuban-American and Abel Maldonado, a Mexican-American and former California lieutenant governor both sat down with the president-elect as his search intensifies for a Hispanic to play a key role in his administration, according to Politico.
"I can tell you now I have spoken to numerous folks on the transition, and they say that he's absolutely looking for qualified Latinos for a Cabinet post," Mario Rodriguez, who heads the Latino PAC Hispanic 100, said.
Rodriguez serves on Trump's Hispanic advisory committee, which has been asked for recommendations.
"I think some appointments are going to be pretty quick," he said. "President-elect Trump was very impressed by the candidates. He wants to put a Latino in the Cabinet. He's not doing it just for show."
Meanwhile, The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed officials has warned it would be an "alarming step backwards" if Trump did not select a Latino for a high-ranking post, Politico reports.
And former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has been advising Trump, said he supported the Cabinet appointments, but noted "there has to be more Hispanics in the administration."
Meanwhile, New York magazine, in a story about Trump's high-level administration picks, noted, "…there is a rather glaring, if unsurprising, diversity issue: no Latinos at all."
The magazine added, "As things stand right now, Trump could become the first president since Jimmy Carter without a Latino Cabinet member."
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