Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been getting advice from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as he gradually expands his tight inner circle.
Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski confirms that Giuliani has been informally advising the Republican presidential front-runner.
Giuliani, who has yet to endorse in the presidential race, drew national acclaim for his handling of the Sept. 11 attacks. He ran for president in 2008.
"Rudy is a very knowledgeable friend. I consider his counsel very important," Trump said in an email to the Washington Post, which first reported the news.
“We’ve been talking. Donald and me, Donald and a few other friends who know politics. He calls to check things out or I’ll call him to say, ‘Donald, you’re going too far’ or ‘What you said was great’ or maybe ‘Change it a bit.’ It’s nothing formal. It’s kind of a running conversation,” Giuliani told the Post. “There is candor and there is trust.”
Giuliani ran for president unsuccessfully in 2008.
“I have advised Trump as well as several other candidates and consider Donald a personal friend for some time," Giuliani said. "I have not endorsed a candidate for President. I believe we have some great candidates including Rubio who I endorsed for Senate, and Kasich. Each one would be much better than Clinton or Sanders and I want to endorse the one who has the best chance of beating the Democrat.”
