Rudy Giuliani Drops Bid To Become Secretary Of State

CBS News reports:

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has removed himself from consideration for the position of secretary of state, according to a statement from President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team.

The statement says that Giuliani told Mr. Trump on November 29th that he no longer wanted to run the State Department. Giuliani, a close and unequivocating Trump ally, had been thought to be a top candidate for the post.

“I joined the campaign because I love my country and because having known Donald Trump as a friend for 28 years and observing what he has been able to accomplish, I had no doubt he would be a great President,” Giuliani is quoted as saying in the statement. “This is not about me; it is about what is best for the country and the new administration.”

According to the statement, Giuliani will return to the private sector but will assist Mr. Trump “in any way he deems necessary and appropriate.”

Giuliani, a foreign policy hawk who ran for president in 2008, was thought to have been the early front-runner for Secretary of State. Since last month, however, several other names have been floated as potential picks, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson.