President-elect’s former rival for Republican presidential nomination says he can help in ‘making our inner cities great for everyone’

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Donald Trump has nominated former opponent Ben Carson as his secretary of housing and urban development. In a statement, Trump said he was “thrilled to nominate” Carson, describing the retired neurosurgeon as having “a brilliant mind” and saying he “is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities.”

Carson had been coy about joining the new administration, saying shortly after Trump’s election victory that he wasn’t certain he’d fit into a Cabinet-style role. Trump’s statement Monday says, “Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a presidency representing all Americans.”

Carson was among the 16 Republican candidates who challenged Trump for the Republican nomination.
President-elect Donald Trump nominates Ben Carson for United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.