President Donald Trump is praising Ronny Jackson, who has just announced he will withdraw from consideration as Veterans Affairs secretary. President Trump says there will be consequences for the Democratic senator who led the charge against Jackson.
In a phone interview with "Fox & Friends" Thursday, President Trump says Jackson "would have done a great job," but that he saw where his nomination was going.
President Trump says he told Jackson, a Navy vice admiral: "Welcome to Washington. Welcome to the swamp. Welcome to the world of politics,"
President Trump places the blame on Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, whose office issued a report Wednesday listing allegations it had gathered about Jackson's work as White House doctor. Trump says: "I think Jon Tester has to have a big price to pay in Montana."
President Trump says he has an idea for a replacement nominee, adding it will be "someone with political capability."
Trump chose Jackson to head the VA last month after abruptly firing Obama administration official David Shulkin.
Jackson was a surprise choice who has worked as a White House physician since 2006. He faced immediate questions from Republican and Democratic lawmakers about whether he had the experience to manage the VA, which has 360,000 employees serving 9 million veterans.
(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
JUST IN: Admiral Ronny Jackson withdraws nomination for Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs. "While I will forever be grateful for the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me by giving me this opportunity, I am regretfully withdrawing my nomination" pic.twitter.com/SLwb9kiJLC
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) April 26, 2018
