Trump aide backtracks: Bob Dole won’t serve in official transition role

Incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Tuesday said he “inadvertently mentioned” that 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole is a vice chairman on President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team.

Spicer told reporters on Monday that Dole would serve in an official capacity in the transition efforts, but he clarified the following day that the former Kansas senator’s role will still be unofficial due to time constraints.

“Sen. Dole continues to be a huge supporter,” Spicer said on the Tuesday call. “He has been extremely helpful in the transition process.”

{mosads}“Due to time commitments, he cannot take on an official role,” he continued.

Dole was the only former GOP presidential nominee who supported Trump during the campaign. The Kansas Republican also stood by him after the leak of the 2005 audio tape in which Trump bragged about groping and kissing women without their consent.

Dole reportedly organized Trump’s call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, which broke decades of U.S. protocol.