Ben Carson notes reveal he’s ‘not happy’ with White House official: report
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson unintentionally indicated that he is not satisfied with the White House’s Presidential Personnel Office (PPO) after his notes were visible to reporters at a Trump 2020 campaign event on Friday, Bloomberg reported.
Ahead of President Trump’s remarks at a Black economic empowerment event in Atlanta Friday afternoon, Carson spoke at a podium while holding a piece of paper with typed out statements that at one point became visible to reporters.
“I am very loyal to you and after you win I hope to stay in your administration,” the notes said. “I am not happy with the way PPO is handling my agency.”
!! HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s notes were visible briefly during his remarks at President Trump’s event and they included talking points about how he’s not happy with the White House personnel office. “I am not happy with the way PPO is handing my agency.” Took these photos —> pic.twitter.com/uPGSgCH1n4
— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) September 25, 2020
According to Bloomberg, Carson did not read those remarks publicly at Friday’s event.
The PPO is responsible for vetting presidential appointments and hiring candidates to work throughout the White House’s various agencies.
The office is led by John McEntee, Trump’s former personal assistant who had been fired in 2018 for undisclosed reasons. Trump brought McEntee back on to oversee the PPO in February.
In some of the images of Carson’s notes tweeted by reporters on Friday, a line appeared to say, “I like John and respect what he is doing, however I am sensing a severe [illegible] of trust,” with Carson’s microphone blocking the illegible words.
As Ben Carson spoke at a Trump campaign event, his notes became clearly visible – and they contained talking points to complain to the president about John McEntee (!!) the head of the White House’s personnel office about how he was handling his agency
story on @TheTerminal pic.twitter.com/sRgDZ9DODw
— Justin Sink (@justinsink) September 25, 2020
The White House declined to comment when contacted by The Hill. The Department of Housing and Urban Development did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Carson has continuously vocalized his support for Trump and the president’s reelection, challenging claims that Trump is racist in his address at the Republican National Convention last month.
“President Trump does not dabble in identity politics. He wants everyone to succeed and believes in the adage, ‘a rising tide lifts all boats,’ ” Carson said in his speech. “Many on the other side love to incite division by claiming that President Trump is a racist. They could not be more wrong.”
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