Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that he will not be joining President-elect Donald Trump's administration.
"No," Gates told reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower when he was asked whether he would be working in the White House, Politico reports.
Gates, who served under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, had talked with Trump for about two hours — his second meeting in as many days, according to the report.
The Trump transition team has not described why Gates was meeting with the president-elect.
But Gates praised Trump's pick of retired Marine Gen. James Mattis in his former position.
"We had a very wide-ranging conversation," Gates said, according to Politico. "I told him I thought his selection of General Mattis to be secretary of defense was terrific, very supportive."
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