U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski is not jumping to any conclusions about President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state. ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson has been announced as Trump’s choice for the job, pending confirmation of the U.S. Senate.
Walorski says the president-elect is allowed to pick who he wants to pick, “Give him time to pick his people and give people a chance!”
She adds that things don’t have to be done the same way they always have been. “It doesn’t have to be people that are picked by party, picked by hierarchy, and picked because they’re next in line,” Walorski says. “You’ve gotta have the ability to do what he’s doing. Vet the whole nation; pick the best that he wants to work with.”
Her comments came after a meet-and-greet in Winamac Tuesday.
Walorski dismissed the CIA’s claim that Russia worked to influence the presidential election, calling it a distraction. But she did feel that Russia poses a real threat. “I think there’s many things in place in this county to make sure they can verify it was a free, clear election,” she says. “And from a military standpoint, where I spend most of my life on the Armed Services Committee, Putin is one of the most dangerous people in this world to us and to the world at large. And I think our military represents that well, and I think the folks that Trump is putting around him as generals know that, as well. So I am not losing any sleep over the fact that there is some conspiracy theory, some conjecture about these two.”
During Tuesday’s event, Walorski said she was pleased with Trump’s appointments, especially when it comes to national security.
