Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an early Trump supporter and one of the top candidates for Secretary of State has announced that he will not be taking a position in the incoming Trump administration.

The Trump campaign announced that Giuliani had withdrawn his name from consideration during a meeting held on November 29 because he wishes to stay in the private sector.

In a statement released by the Trump campaign, Giuliani stated that he “joined the campaign because I love my country and because having known Donald Trump as a friend for 28 years and observing what he has been able to accomplish, I had no doubt he would be a great President.”

Giuliani added that “this is not about me; it is about what is best for the country and the new administration. Before I joined the campaign I was very involved and fulfilled by my work with my law firm and consulting firm, and I will continue that work with even more enthusiasm. From the vantage point of the private sector, I look forward to helping the President-elect in any way he deems necessary and appropriate.”

President-elect Donald Trump praised the former New York City Mayor who extensively campaigned for him by saying that “Rudy Giuliani is an extraordinarily talented and patriotic American. I will always be appreciative of his 24/7 dedication to our campaign after I won the primaries and for his extremely wise counsel. He is and continues to be a close personal friend, and as appropriate, I will call upon him for advice and can see an important place for him in the administration at a later date.”

He added that “Rudy would have been an outstanding member of the Cabinet in several roles, but I fully respect and understand his reasons for remaining in the private sector.”