Donald Trump said Thursday that Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen will be out of a job in a few years if he's elected, but there's a "40 percent chance" that one of his former rivals for the GOP presidential nomination could be offered a new job — as his running mate.
"I have nothing against Janet Yellen whatsoever," the presumptive nominee told CNBC's
"Squawk Box" program. "I don't know her. She's a very capable person. People I know have a high regard for her. But she's not a Republican."
Yellen, who was named as the Federal Reserve chairwoman in 2014, is appointed through January 2018.
But when it comes to
potential running mates, Trump said that he's gotten to be friends with several of the former candidates, and that he has a good relationship with Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who dropped his bid for the nomination in a surprise move on Wednesday.
However, he said it's "probably unlikely" that Kasich will join his ticket, but he does have "a good view" of Kasich and a "good opinion of him."
Trump said he does prefer to pick a running mate with government experience, rather than in the business sector, because he believes that his own experience will enable him to cover business issues, but someone in government will be able to push legislation through Congress.
He also told the program that Sen. Jeff Sessions, who has endorsed him for several months, would be a "good anything," when asked if the Alabama Republican would be a good running mate.
Also in Thursday's wide-ranging interview, Trump discussed several issues concerning the economy, including keeping interest rates low to keep the national debt of $19 trillion more under control.
"We're paying a very low interest rate," Trump said. "What happens if that interest rate goes up 2, 3, 4 points? We don't have a country." Further, he called on the United States to refinance its longer-term debt.
Trump also spoke out against the nation's trade agreements, telling the program he would eliminate several government regulations, and denied contentions that his policy on immigration could harm the nation's economy.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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