Reports say Branstad has accepted Trump administration position

BY ERIN MURPHY

Lee Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES? Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has accepted an offer to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China under President-elect Donald Trump, according to multiple national news reports.

Branstad is in New York on an economic development trip. He met with Trump on Tuesday at Trump Tower.

Reports from Bloomberg Politics, the Washington Post, and NBC News, among others, say Trump offered Branstad the position of U.S. Ambassador to China and that Branstad has accepted.

The governor?s office on Wednesday morning called the reports premature.

?At this point, any report saying that the governor has accepted a new role in the administration is premature and not confirmed,? Branstad spokesman Ben Hammes said.

Since Trump?s Nov. 8 election victory, political observers have speculated Trump would offer the role of Chinese ambassador to Branstad, who has a long professional relationship with China President Xi Jinping.

At Trump?s last campaign stop in Iowa before the election, in Sioux City, Trump praised Branstad as someone who could serve as Chinese ambassador.

?Terry came to my office and he was talking to me about trade, and I think there?s nobody who knows more about trade than him,? Trump told the crowd in Sioux City the Sunday before the election. ?(Branstad) would be a prime candidate to take care of China. He has done so well for the people of Iowa. Nobody knows it better.?

Branstad has deflected questions about possibly serving in the Trump administration, saying that he is focused on Iowa. But he has not ruled out accepting a position in the administration, saying he also loves his country.