Ben Carson Declines Trump's Offer for Cabinet Post, Says He Can Do More Outside Gov't
Former Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has told The Christian Post that he has received "lots of offers" to work in the Donald Trump administration but stressed that he has no interest in serving a cabinet position or working inside the federal government.
After reports surfaced Tuesday morning that cited one of Carson's most trusted advisors as saying that Carson is not seeking a position in Trump's cabinet, CP asked Carson during a 12 p.m. phone conference hosted by Virginia pastor E.W. Jackson why he has no interest in serving in a Trump administration and whether or not he received offers to be a part of the president-elect's cabinet.
"Yeah, I have had lots of offers but I don't particularly want to work inside the government. I have worked effectively outside the government for a number of years now," the 65-year-old Carson explained. "It is important to speak exactly what you feel and not be constrained by any administration, quite frankly. Particularly at a time when we have media that is very biased, you need voices that can speak out the truth and help people to really understand what the real problems are and focus on the problems because we need to be successful."
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"This administration needs to be successful because that is how America will be successful," he continued. "We were about to go off the cliff and we have been given a reprieve and we have got to make the best of it."
As many thought the retired and renowned Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon would be considered for a position such as Secretary of Health and Human Services, one woman who spoke later in the phone call asked Carson to reconsider his decision not to accept a position in the administration, saying that we need more godly men like him in the government.
"I have prayed about it and thought very carefully about it and I feel that I have a great deal more influence outside of the cabinet," Carson responded. "When you take a cabinet position, you get pigeon-holed into one area and the things that we have to deal with are very broad."
"I think there are other people, many people who I have met and recommended who can fill these positions very well and enjoy being an administrator and a bureaucrat," he added. "I would not enjoy that at all. I enjoy doing what I do now — being out there, pointing out things, battling the media, trying to get the young journalists to understand the importance of integrity in journalism. And, I will be able to continue doing all those things. Plus, I have a lot of connections in lots of different areas that will be very helpful to the administration."
Carson also said he will help the Trump administration fix and reform the healthcare system.
"I have already provided them with a lot of suggestions, outlines, people," he stated. "That is not going to be a problem. That is high priority for both myself and for the president."
Carson also fielded a question from a caller who wondered whether or not Trump will stay true to his conservative campaign promises that helped get him elected.
"He is going to stick with the spirit of what he said but maybe not the letter of what he said," Carson said. "For instance, talking about building a wall. What he really wants to do is secure the border. There are a variety of ways of doing that but the point being that we will make sure that it gets done. You can rest assured that those principles will be followed but it may not be the exact letter of the law."
