Carly Fiorina Says She Discussed China, Hacking With Trump During NY Meeting
The president-elect held meetings at Trump Tower today.
— -- President-elect Donald Trump met with former GOP rival Carly Fiorina today in New York, discussing China as an "our most important adversary" as well as hacking, according to the former Hewlett-Packard CEO.
Trump tangled with Fiorina during the primary and drew criticism for comments made to Rolling Stone about her appearance. He later said he was referring to Fiorina's persona and said during a debate she's "got a beautiful face."
After today's meeting, Fiorina said it was "an honor to meet" Trump, adding that they had a "really productive meeting."
She and Trump “spent a fair amount of time talking about China as probably our most important adversary and a rising adversary," Fiorina told reporters after leaving Trump Tower. "We talked about hacking, whether it's Chinese hacking or purported Russian hacking."
She also praised his Cabinet selections: "The high quality of people that he's named already says so much about his executive abilities,” she said.
Fiorina and Trump famously went toe-to-toe during the second Republican primary debate on Sept. 16, 2015. During the debate, Fiorina was asked about Trump's interview with Rolling Stone magazine in which he said of her: "Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?"
"I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said," responded Fiorina, who was the only Republican woman running for president.
Fiorina dropped out of the 2016 race Feb. 10 after the New Hampshire primary. Then, before anyone was named the Republican nominee, she had a brief stint as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's running mate.
In a Facebook post in October, after the 2005 Hollywood Access video of Trump’s making lewd comments about women surfaced, Fiorina called on Trump to step down as the Republican nominee and for the Republican National Committee to replace him with Mike Pence.
"Donald Trump does not represent me or my party," Fiorina wrote. "I understand the responsibility of Republicans to support their nominee. Our nominee has weighty responsibilities as well. Donald Trump has manifestly failed in these responsibilities."
After Election Day, Fiorina congratulated Trump and Pence on their win.
Trump also met with two other former rivals for the presidency: Rick Santorum and Rick Perry. This is Perry's second meeting with Trump, his first meeting was at Trump Tower in November. The former governor of Texas once called Trump's candidacy a "cancer on conservatism." Santorum's history with Trump appears to be far more civil. Although the former Pennsylvania senator initially endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio for president, he later endorsed Trump for president "100 percent."
Back in January and before the Iowa caucuses, Santorum, along with Mike Huckabee, joined Trump at a fundraiser for veterans Trump scheduled at the same time as the seventh Republican debate.
Trump also met with Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, and Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador, a Republican. Trump's meeting with Manchin was previously scheduled for Friday.
Manchin is a contender for secretary of state and secretary of energy, while McMorris Rodgers is a contender for interior secretary and agriculture secretary.