Jon Kyl rules out secretary of defense role in Donald Trump’s Cabinet
Nov 30, 2016, 11:52 AM
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX — Consider the rumor quashed: Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl will not be part of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
The former lawmaker from Arizona told Politico on Wednesday that he would not consider stepping in as Trump’s secretary of defense.
“I retired from the Senate in 2013 to better care for my family and indicated at the time that I would not serve in government again,” Kyl told POLITICO this morning. “The Trump transition team is well aware of this and of my willingness to help in other ways.”
The website Breaking Defense reported Tuesday that Kyl was officially being considered for the post after his name was floated around in past weeks.
The site said the former senator was in consideration because of his knowledge of both domestic and foreign policy and his widespread popularity throughout the Republican Party.
However, there was little chance of Kyl accepting the job, had he been offered the post. He told The Hill in 2012 that he would refuse to serve as a member of a Republican president’s Cabinet.
He was also rather quiet about Trump’s run to the White House and, if his Cabinet picks thus far are any indication, Trump tends to prefer people who supported him during his campaign.
Trump has named several of his campaign insiders — including former head of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus, Sen. Jeff Sessions and Breitbart News head Steve Bannon — to his Cabinet.
