Then President-elect Donald Trump told members of his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey to “come along” to observe potential Cabinet picks and other members of his administration as they arrived at the club to meet with him in November.
In a newly-leaked audio recording, published by Politico Saturday, Trump is heard bragging about a packed schedule of interviews with potential government officials to club members during a private event.
Trump’s club in Bedminster played host to interviews with a variety of potential Cabinet picks in the following days, including Mitt Romney, once in the running to be Secretary of State, and Gen. James Mattis, now Secretary of Defense.
“We’re doing a lot of interviews tomorrow— Generals, dictators, we have everything,” Trump tells the crowd of Bedminster members, adding later: “Tomorrow we’re here and Sunday we’re here. We’re going to be interviewing everybody. Treasury. We’re going to be interviewing Secretary of State. We have everybody coming in. And we’re going to have— And I don’t know if you want to come around, but if you want, it’s going to be unbelievable. It’s going to be an unbelievable day. So you might want to come along.”
At one point during his remarks, Trump seems to call out to Bob Greifeld, then in his last months as the CEO of Nasdaq, Inc.
“Where is my man— Where is Bob? Where is Bob Greifeld? Come here,” Trump says, adding moments later: “But we were just talking about, ‘Who are we going to pick for the SEC, who are we going to pick for this, who are we…’ and I said, ‘Boy, can you give some recommendations?’ And he said, ‘Boy, I’d like to do that.’”
Politico reported that the leaked speech took place on Nov. 18. The next day, according to pool reports, Trump met with a large group of potential Cabinet members and other government officials, including Betsy DeVos, now Secretary of Education; Gen. James Mattis, now Secretary of Defense; Todd Ricketts, now nominated to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce; Andy Puzder, who recently withdrew his nomination to be Secretary of Labor; and Lew Eisenberg, now Ambassador to Italy. Mitt Romney, then under consideration to be Secretary of State, also met with Trump on the 19th.
“So we’re really working tomorrow. All day long we have meetings. Every 15, 20 minutes we have meetings with different people that will form our government,” Trump says near the end of his taped remarks.
Listen below, via Politico:
POTUS as reality show. It was probably only a matter of time…
Here’s a follow up to one of TrUmps great picks.
“Thank you, you! I’ll be here all week. Don’t forget to tip your waitress. And try the veal."
Worst. Act. Ever.
Would somebody please just unplug his mic and cancel the booking?
I think having Chris Christie sit in a dunk tank was a nice touch.
The scofflaw and ordure unpresidency.