U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had a second day of meetings Sunday with potential Cabinet members.
Trump - at his luxury golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey - met with two of his staunchest defenders during the lengthy presidential election campaign: former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Giuliani, a symbol of American resolve against Islamic terrorism after the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, has little foreign affairs experience but has sought appointment as secretary of state, the country's top diplomatic job.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence told Fox News that Mitt Romney, the losing 2012 Republican presidential nominee who met with Trump Saturday, is "under active consideration" as secretary of state, "along with some other very distinguished Americans."
Trump defeated Christie and 15 others for this year's Republican presidential nomination, but the New Jersey governor later endorsed the billionaire real estate mogul and campaigned for him. Christie led Trump's transition-to-power team until Trump dismissed him in favor of Pence after Trump's stunning upset win two weeks ago over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Christie's stock in Republican circles was assumed to have diminished in recent weeks after two of his aides were convicted for their role in a politically motivated, traffic-clogging scheme over a bridge from New Jersey into New York. But Trump said Saturday, "We like Chris a lot."
Trump tweeted that he is considering naming a 66-year-old retired Marine Corps general James Mattis, whom he characterized as "Mad Dog," to be defense secretary. Trump said he talked with Mattis on Saturday, describing him as "very impressive... a true General's General!"
Trump also met Sunday with Kris Kobach, a Kansas official who is a hardliner against illegal immigration, one of the key themes of Trump's vidtory. In addition, the president-elect talked with billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, a possible choice for commerce secretary, global investor David McCormick, Hollywood talent agent Ari Emanuel and others.
Romney, who had been one of Trump's harshest Republican critics during early stages of the U.S. political campaign, was one of a parade of officials who met with him Saturday.
Others who traveled to Trump's New Jersey golf course for meetings included education activists Michelle Rhee and Betsy DeVos, as well as Mattis.
Trump, outside the Trump National Golf Club, displayed a thumbs-up gesture and said, "Went great," as he and Romney exited. But it was not immediately clear what role, if any, Romney would play in the new Trump government that takes over January 20 as President Barack Obama leaves office. Romney is a business investor and a former Massachusetts governor.
