Governor Terry Branstad. (file photo)
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and his wife, Chris, spent about an hour inside Trump Tower in New York today. Branstad issued a written statement shortly after the meeting ended.
Branstad acknowledged the “speculation” that Trump might ask Branstad to serve as the Ambassador to China, but Branstad said he had “no announcement to make at this time.”
Branstad spoke briefly to reporters gathered outside the president-elect’s New York City home. Branstad told reporters there that he was “really excited about the quality of people” Trump is “attracting” to his cabinet. When asked directly if he had been offered a position in the Trump Administration, Branstad deflected. The governor said he and Trump “had an opportunity to talk about a number of things” and he “can’t comment on that at this point in time.”
In his written statement, Branstad said he “had a very cordial conversation” with Trump about the role Iowa played” in Trump’s win. Branstad’s written statement is posted below.
Branstad on Monday said if he was offered the post in China, it would be a “family decision” as to whether he’d accept it. Last month, Branstad told reporters his wife’s “blessing” on the move was crucial.
“I’ll just say I love my wife. We’ve been married 44 years and I want to stay married,” Branstad told Iowa reporters.
Governor Branstad issued the following written statement today:
I appreciate the invitation that President-elect Trump extended to my wife and me today. I’m in New York on an economic development mission and I truly appreciated the opportunity to meet. We had a very cordial conversation about the role Iowa played in his overall success by winning 93 or 99 counties and flipping 34 counties that previously went for President Obama. It’s clear that his jobs message resonated with Iowans and the rest of the country. It’s refreshing to see his bold leadership that will put people to work, give power back to the states and Make America Great Again.
We also talked about the transition and his new Administration. He is putting together a great cabinet that will serve the American people well. While there has been speculation regarding an appointment to serve in this Administration, I have no announcement to make at this time.