Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) declined to address rumors he is being considered by President-elect Donald Trump for a cabinet position during a Friday appearance on CNN, but vowed to “work arm in arm” with Trump “in whatever role,” likely signaling a willingness to serve the incoming administration if asked.
“I’ll leave the speculation to the speculators,” Hagerty told the network. “I’m just so excited that President Trump has delivered the mandate that he did on election day. I’m so pleased that Republicans are now in control of the Senate, and I do believe that we’ll hold control of the House.”
Describing Trump’s electoral mandate as a “huge opportunity” to “literally turn our nation back on the right track again,” Hagerty ultimately said he plans to work alongside Trump during the new administration regardless of a possible cabinet selection.
“I look forward to working arm-in-arm with President Trump in whatever role to make certain that we get our nation, our great nation, back to the potential that we can.”
Pressed by the network to state whether he would prefer as Secretary of State or U.S. Trade Representative, Hagerty again declined to comment.
“As I said, I’m not going to engage in any speculation. I’ll leave that to others,” said the senator. “The main focus now is not to create sideshows, but to be getting ready to deliver for the American people. That’s where I’m focused.”
The senator expanded on his position that voters gave Trump and Republicans a mandate to lead during a Sunday appearance on “Face The Nation,” when he described the incoming Trump administration boasts “a mandate that we haven’t seen… in 36 years,” referencing the last time a Republican presidential candidate secured 312 votes in the Electoral College.
“The public has spoken loud and clear,” said Hagerty.
The American people have delivered a Trump mandate, and we’re already seeing a Trump effect around the world.
Washington cannot avoid or ignore it. pic.twitter.com/OYw9KkMvob
— Bill Hagerty (@BillHagertyTN) November 10, 2024
Hagerty’s comments come amid speculation that up to three Tennessee Republicans could find themselves offered positions within the Trump White House, with Hagerty complemented by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07), according to 10 News.
Public relations consultant Susan Williams and Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) cited leadership experience boasted by Hagerty, Blackburn, and Green, as well as their comfortable electoral wins, as reasons the president-elect could ask the Tennesseans to serve the administration.
Watch Hagerty’s full appearance on CNN:
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Not a fan of Hagerty. He appears to sit back and let others do the dirty work. I se him more as a fringe member of the D.C. Swamp. He is better fit for another ambassadorship. Maybe in the Middle East.