Presumed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced Monday that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will lay the foundation for a potential Trump administration by leading Trump’s transition team.
The team’s goal is to ensure that when the Obama administration leaves office in January, his successor’s administration is fully operational.
” … it is really important that Trump has publicly named a transition chairman,” said Max Stier, who is chairman of the Partnership for Public Service. “Trump is demonstrating his understanding that he needs to prepare for the possibility that he will be governing at the same time as he is trying to win the campaign.”
Trump said in a statement, “Governor Christie is an extremely knowledgeable and loyal person with the tools and resources to put together an unparalleled transition team, one that will be prepared to take over the White House when we win in November.”
“I am grateful to Governor Christie for his contributions to this movement,” he said.
According to the statement, Christie would be “overseeing an extensive team of professionals preparing to take over the White House, and all that entails.”
“I am honored by the confidence being placed in me by Mr. Trump and look forward to putting together a first-rate team to assemble an administration to help best serve the president-elect and the nation,” Christie said.
Stier suggested that Christie would not be able to serve as Trump’s running mate or take on an active, full-time campaign role because of the time needed to devote to the transition team.
Christie, who had originally sought the GOP nomination, endorsed Trump after his campaign faltered.
The Washington Post noted Christie has been “a key adviser … behind the scenes.” It also noted that his selection as the transition team leader give Christie “influence in the selection of White House and administration staff and in the development of a president-elect’s first steps.”
h/t: The Atlantic