Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson praised the Cabinet following its first meeting, saying President Donald Trump has brought people together with much business savvy who will do "things that make sense based on evidence and not on ideology."
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Carson said on Tuesday that at his department there is an emphasis on "fixing things on a holistic manner rather than just a little spot here and a little spot there."
The secretary also said that in order to get "more bang for the buck," he is intent on "creating much easier methods of public-private partnerships, because the money is not in the government. The money is in the private sector. You have to create win-win situations."
Carson also promised to encourage programs that will help renters get on the path to owning their own home, because that is "one of the key factors in the financial foundation of this country."
He pointed out that home ownership is "the primary mechanism whereby families accumulate wealth," stressing that "The average net worth of families with a home is $200,000. Renters is $5,000."
When asked if all the controversies surrounding the Trump administration are affecting his work, Carson said "there are some of us who are pretty laser focused on what we are doing. Sort of like when you are in an operating room. It doesn't matter what's going on out there. You are dealing with that particular situation."
Commenting on those who criticized his comment that success and poverty are a mindset, Carson refused to back off.
"What I said is it's partly a process of how you think. And I know that from experience," he said. "I knew there was a time when I thought I was stupid. I didn't think that my destiny was in my own hands. I started reading. I started reading everything. My whole world changed. I have a different view of things now. When people tell me something can't be done, I just say well maybe you can't do it. I don't even think that way anymore."
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