Ben Carson says he rejected an offer from Obama to serve as surgeon general
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Ben Carson may not be the American electorate's first choice for president, but the retired neurosurgeon claims he's been called to serve his country in the past. In an interview on Fox News Radio's Alan Colmes Show, originally spotted by BuzzFeed, Carson said he was offered the job of surgeon general of the United States by not one but two presidential administrations and both times, he respectfully declined.
"You know George W. Bush offered me that position. The Obama administration, before they found out who I really was, offered me that position," Carson told Colmes. "I'm not interested."
Despite his brief flirtation with public office this year, the former Republican presidential candidate maintains that he has no further plans to pursue a career in public service, even under a Trump administration. "I do not want a government position," he said in the interview. Listen to the clip below, courtesy of BuzzFeed. Roxie Pell
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Roxie Pell is the social media editor of TheWeek.com. She has previously written for Gothamist, Frommer's, and The Rumpus.