OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Mary Fallin on Wednesday responded to media reports that her interview with President-elect Donald Trump did not go well.
“I had a really nice phone call this weekend with Vice President-elect Mike Pence,” Fallin said. “He said, ‘Mary, I saw the stories and I just wanted to tell you it is absolutely not true.’ He said, ‘You are highly respected, highly regarded. That is why we asked you to come up and visit with us.’ ”
Fallin met last month with Trump to discuss several issues, including a possible role in his administration. She had reportedly been under consideration for interior secretary, but the Trump administration announced Thursday that the job has been offered to U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana.
People are also reading…
Some news reports have indicated that Fallin did not do well in the interview.
Fallin said Pence told her the Trump administration was looking at her for several positions, if she was interested in them. He told her the selection process was very competitive and a lot of people were being interviewed, she said.
Fallin also serves as one of several vice chairs of the Trump transition committee, which recently sent out an email advising the recipient that he or she would hear media reports that people are in and out for different administration posts.
The communication advised the recipient to take that information “with a grain of salt,” Fallin said.
The communication indicated that there were a lot of rumors and misinformation being spread, she said.
Fallin was asked what positions other than interior secretary she discussed with Trump or would be willing to consider.
“I think it is important to let the president (elect) make his own decisions about these positions,” she said. “He has had a large quantity of people willing to serve. He has had a lot of people come in and out of Trump Tower to visit with him over these issues.”
Without elaborating, Fallin said Trump spoke with her “about four different things, you know, do you have any interest in any of these different areas. Some maybe. Some not.”
“It was just a great honor and privilege to be an Oklahoman to be asked to come up and give my opinion on various issues and talk about the issues of the day,” she said.
Fallin noted she is in her third year of being the Republican Governor’s Association policy chair.
“I was talking about policy to him,” she said.
One of the items she said they discussed was providing federal Medicaid dollars to the states in block grants and giving states more control.
Fallin said she didn’t know if she would get a courtesy call in advance if Trump does not select her to serve in his administration.
“I’ve never done this before,” she said.
Trump recently tapped Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to serve as administrator for the EPA. His nomination must be confirmed by the Senate.
Fallin is expected to appoint Pruitt’s replacement, should he be confirmed and resign the post.
She said she is not in any hurry to pick a replacement because there is not a vacancy at this point. She said it will be months before officials know what Pruitt’s timeline will be.
