While they fall on opposite sides of the political spectrum, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is coming out in favor of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad as the next U.S. ambassador to China.
On Tuesday, the Trump transition team announced Branstad is their number one choice for this important diplomatic post.
“He’s tenacious, and he’s going to have to be,” said Vilsack. “He’s going to have to be and he understands and appreciates the importance of trade, and he will have to. I think all the qualities that make a good ambassador, he has.”
Branstad is the longest serving governor in U.S. history. He’s known Chinese President Xi Jinping for more than 30 years.
