Dr. Ben Carson is the favorite to be nominated as Donald Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the battle for a spot in his Cabinet, several people familiar with the selection process told DailyMail.com.
The 73-year-old retired neurosurgeon wants to return to the White House for a second term after serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the first Trump administration.
Carson was one of the few people in Trump’s orbit who said he should be elected after January 6, 2021.
He was a wild card in the vice presidential race, and sources confirmed that some closer to Trump’s inner circle pushed for his selection. And he has had a constant presence in the electoral campaign as President of the President-elect’s National Faith.
Dr. Ben Carson, 73, is the leading candidate for Donald Trump’s next Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Carson was a running mate candidate because of the deeply personal relationship he had built with Trump, who said in May, two months before announcing his selection, that he would have done a “fantastic job” had he joined the ticket.
Trump’s preference for Carson shows he is rewarding allies who have stood by him in deciding who will occupy top jobs.
The president-elect is holed up in Mar-a-Lago in constant conversations with his top advisors, including billionaire Elon Musk, who complete his cabinet as the clock ticks toward his inauguration on January 20.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is also being touted for a role focused on healthcare under Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” banner.
But it is still unclear what role it could play.
The HHS secretary requires Senate confirmation, which could pose complications for RFK Jr. due to his skepticism about vaccines and other traditional medicines.
Carson has proven his loyalty by defending Trump during his third run for the White House.
Sources confirmed to DailyMail.com that those in Trump’s inner circle were vying for him to select Ben Carson as his running mate in the 2024 election.
He predicted the Republican candidate would see the surge in African-American support that helped him achieve a historic victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
During a historic medical career, he completed the first successful separation of conjoined twins who were joined at the back of the head.
In 2013, he rose to political prominence with a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast where he criticized then-President Barack Obama’s health policies.
After retiring as a surgeon that same year, he became a Fox News commentator and then, in 2016, launched a presidential bid.
With his conservative Christian views, he surprisingly became a favorite in the race.
But he dropped out of the primary after Super Tuesday and has supported Trump ever since.
Sources told DailyMail.com that Carson has been “vying” for a position and that HHS is the “best option.”
Along with fellow contender Eric Hargan, who was briefly acting HHS secretary in the first Trump administration, Carson is considered Trump’s preferred choice.
