Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of supporters during a campaign rally on June 18, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo by AFP
WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday met with former CIA Director David Petraeus as he ratcheted up efforts to search for a new US secretary of state, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
Speaking to reporters after their one-hour meeting, Petraeus indicated to reporters that he was impressed by Trump’s knowledge about international affairs.
“He (Trump) basically walked us around the world. Showed a great grasp of a variety of the challenges that are out there and some of the opportunities as well. Very good conversation and we’ll see where it goes from here,” said Petraeus.
Meanwhile, Trump said on Twitter that he was “very impressed” after his meeting with Petraeus.
According to local media report, Petraeus, together with 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, are strong competitors for the position of US secretary of state in the upcoming Trump administration.
Trump will meet with Romney for a second session on Tuesday, according to Trump aides.
The two men met on Nov 19 for the first time after the election at Trump’s private golf club in New Jersey, after which Romney, a former vocal critic of Trump’s campaign, said they had a “far reaching conversation with regards to the various theaters in the world where there are interests of the United States of real significance.”
During the 2016 US presidential election, Romney was a leader of the “Never Trump” movement launched by establishment Republicans who sought in vain to derail Trump’s inroad into the Republican presidential nomination. – Bernama