New York:Â Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has withdrawn from consideration to become President-elect Donald Trump's secretary of state or serve in any other capacity in the new administration, the transition team announced.
Giuliani had been named by transition officials as one of the contenders to be the nation's top diplomat, but has decided to remain in the private sector, according to a statement on Friday from Trump's transition office. He withdrew from consideration during a meeting with Trump on November 29, the statement said.
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Rudy Giuliani as Secretary of State?
Sources say former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has emerged as a leading candidate to be US secretary of state for President-elect Donald Trump.
"Rudy would have been an outstanding member of the Cabinet in several roles, but I fully respect and understand his reasons for remaining in the private sector," Trump said in the statement.
Trump is still considering options for his secretary of state, pondering a list that has been described as contracting and expanding repeatedly over the last few weeks.
![Former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani.](/web/20161211023347im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/2/y/t/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt87io.png/1481322912501.jpg)
Kellyanne Conway, a top Trump adviser, said on Fox News Friday that the list currently includes "a very diverse group." She mentioned Alan Mulally, the former chief executive officer of Ford Motor Co and Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, among others.
She also said "Mayor Giuliani is still in the mix," an assertion at odds with the announcement that he took himself out of the running earlier.
In New York City, Giuliani gained praise for overseeing a drop in violent crime and for his handling of the September 11 attacks -- earning the nickname "America's Mayor" -- but he left office with a reputation as one of the most divisive chief executives in the city's history.
Trump had few more loyal -- and combative -- allies throughout his presidential campaign than the 72-year-old former mayor and federal prosecutor. Giuliani vouched for Trump in the face of sexual-misconduct allegations, saying they didn't ring true; criticised the Iran nuclear deal; and backed Trump's claims that President Barack Obama founded Islamic State.
Critics raised questions about how Giuliani's fiery temperament would fit the role of a diplomat. Senator Rand Paul, a Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee who's wary of foreign entanglements, raised concern about the former mayor's work for foreign governments and companies and his history of giving paid speeches after he left the New York mayor's office in December 2001.
Reince Priebus, who will serve as Trump's White House chief of staff, said in the transition office's statement that the former mayor "was vetted by our team for any possible conflicts and passed with flying colors."
Bloomberg