Back In NYC, President-Elect Has Parade Of Meetings At Trump Tower
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump returned to Trump Tower Monday after spending the weekend receiving a parade of visitors at his golf course in New Jersey as he works to fill major posts in his administration.
Among his scheduled visitors for Monday: former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who ran against him in the Republican primary, longtime ally Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin.
PHOTOS: Trump Holds Meetings In Bedminster
Fallin said they had a "wonderful discussion'' on a "wide range of issues" but that she has not yet been offered a post in his administration. Fallin, a Republican, is being considered to head the Interior Department, according to Trump aide Kellyanne Conway.
Her meeting with Trump came after he sat down with former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts. Brown indicated he is under consideration to become Veterans Affairs secretary.
Brown, a Republican and member of the Army National Guard, told reporters he believes he is "the best person'' for the job. He said his priorities would be to combat veterans' mental health issues in hopes of preventing suicides.
At his Bedminster golf club on Sunday, Trump gave assurances that "incredible meetings'' would be bringing "incredible people'' into the government.
"You'll be hearing about them soon,'' he said.
Trump made a flurry of brief public appearances over the weekend, often with Vice President-elect Mike Pence at his side, to flash frequent thumbs-ups and provide quick updates on his progress in building a government.
Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee in 2012, was "under active and serious consideration'' for secretary of state, Pence said. Trump himself said retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis was an "impressive'' prospect for defense secretary.
Trump told reporters Sunday that one of his most loyal and public allies, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, was also a prospect for secretary of state "and other things.'' Giuliani at one point had been considered for attorney general, but Trump gave that job to Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama.
Conway said Monday the president-elect wanted to hear viewpoints from across the political spectrum, including from "Never Trumpers'' who she said "are looking forward to having a say in what happens next.''
She also said that Trump would receive a visit from Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned her post in the Democratic National Committee after endorsing Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton.
"Not all of them (his visitors) will be in his Cabinet and his federal government, but they are all incredibly important in offering their points of views, their experience and certainly their vision of the country,'' Conway said.
Between conversations Sunday, Trump revealed he was making transition plans for his family, too. He told reporters that his wife, Melania, and their 10-year-old son, Barron, will move to the White House when Barron finishes the school year.
Spokesman Jason Miller had said that there was "obviously a sensitivity" about pulling Barron out of school to go to Washington. In the meantime, Trump's penthouse windows are being replaced with bullet proof glass.
Even as Trump and his team discussed pressing issues facing the country and how to staff the incoming administration, the president-elect's Twitter feed suggested other issues, too, were on his mind.
His targets Sunday included Nevada Sen. Reid. Trump tweeted that incoming Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, another media-savvy New Yorker, was "far smarter'' than Reid and "has the ability to get things done.''
Trump also complained that "Saturday Night Live,'' which thrives on making fun of politicians, is "biased'' and not funny. The night before, actor Alec Baldwin portrayed Trump as Googling: "What is ISIS?''
Trump also insisted again that the cast and producers of "Hamilton'' should apologize after the lead actor addressed Pence from the stage Friday night, telling the vice president-elect that "diverse America'' was "alarmed and anxious.''
Pence said on CBS' "Face the Nation'' that he wasn't offended.
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