Several national media organizations, including Bloomberg and C-B-S News, are reporting this (Wednesday) morning that President-elect Trump has asked Iowa’s governor to be his ambassador to China — but Branstad’s spokesman says those reports “are not accurate.” Branstad and his wife, Chris, met with Trump in New York City yesterday (Tuesday). Branstad emerged from the meeting saying he had “no announcement to make at this time” and “couldn’t comment” on whether Trump had offered him the ambassadorship.

Other media are citing sources inside the Trump campaign as confirming Trump did just that. Branstad spokesman Ben Hammes told Radio Iowa early this (Wednesday) morning that: “Those reports are premature and not accurate.” A Chinese government official was asked about the reports today. He called Branstad an “old friend” — a reference to Branstad’s long-standing relationship with China’s president. And China’s foreign ministry spokesman said the Chinese “welcome” Branstad “to play a greater role in advancing the development of China-US relations.”

On Monday, Branstad told Iowa reporters the relationship between the two countries was a lot like the Chinese symbol that represents both danger and opportunity.

(Radio Iowa)