Ben Carson doesn't think he's qualified to run a federal agency. Trump floats him to lead HUD anyway.
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Former presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is apparently being considered to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Donald Trump shared Tuesday afternoon. "I am seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as the head of HUD. I've gotten to know him well — he's a greatly talented person who loves people!" Trump tweeted.
Carson said through aides earlier in November that he would not be joining the Trump administration. "Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience, he's never run a federal agency," Carson's close friend Armstrong Williams said. "The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency."
Aside from Carson's own concerns about his credentials, others questioned why exactly Carson would be a good fit for the position. "Serious question: What is Ben Carson's qualification to be the head of HUD?" CBS News' Sopan Deb asked.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
