Ben Carson is President-elect Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and he could get some help with the job from an unusual source.
Comedian and TV host Steve Harvey dropped by Trump Tower and told reporters he met with Trump to discuss what he could do to help people in housing projects, particularly in the inner cities.
"We're going to team up and see if we can bring about some positive change in the inner cities, which I felt was my only agenda, and he agreed. And he wants to do something, and he realizes that he needs some allies in that department," Harvey said.
Harvey also said he spoke with Carson by phone.
Harvey said he was inspired by President Obama to sit down and talk with people from all political backgrounds. And he said both Trump and Obama's transition teams helped organize the meeting.
Carson is a renowned surgeon, but he has no government or housing experience. Critics have questioned how he's going to run a department he's not familiar with.
After ending his presidential campaign, Carson said he would decline any position in Trump's administration. An aide said that was because he didn't have the necessary experience. But Carson apparently changed his mind.
Carson's congressional hearing also gave critics reason for concern. He refused to say that he would prevent any of the department's funds from going Trump or his family through Trump's massive real estate portfolio.
