Trump Meeting with SC Governor Nikki Haley, Henry Kissinger

Official South Carolina Governor’s Office (NEW YORK) — Amid swirling speculation about his cabinet picks, President-elect Donald Trump is in Trump Tower for another full day of meetings, where he is believed to be narrowing down his possible choices with nominations expected within the next few weeks.

Since his visit to Washington, D.C., last week, Trump has remained in his Manhattan, New York headquarters and residence with no public events, holding multiple meetings with top transition aides and various potential contenders for his White House cabinet.

The meetings Thursday are likely to focus on foreign policy and national security, including a mix of people who are providing counsel and those whose names are reportedly in the mix for potential cabinet positions in a Trump administration.

Among those coming to Trump Tower Thursday are South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a potential contender for secretary of state, and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Haley, who was a late endorser of Trump, originally threw her support behind former presidential candidate Marco Rubio before the South Carolina primary in February.

“Marco Rubio is the only one that can defeat Donald Trump and Marco Rubio can beat Hillary Clinton and will win in November,” Haley said of the Florida senator on ABC News’ This Week in February.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., voiced his support for Haley today, telling CNN, “she could do a job in any assignment.”

“She’s talented, she’s capable and could do a good job in any assignment given. I don’t know her foreign policy. I haven’t talked to her. Her husband was in the South Carolina National Guard. He deployed to Afghanistan. I think she’s a traditional Republican when it comes to foreign policy,” Graham said. “I certainly would support Nikki Haley. I like her a lot.”

This is also not Trump’s first meeting with the former secretary of state. The two met in May at Kissinger’s home, at a time when Trump was seeking support from Republicans and featuring foreign policy issues more prominently in his campaign.

A secretary of state for former Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, Kissinger, 92, has remained active in politics in the decades since and has taken on a respected elder role for some Republicans.

Additionally, Trump is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe Thursday, marking his first face-to-face meeting with a head of state since becoming president-elect.

He will also hold meetings with Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, and Navy Adm. Mike Rogers.

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