How Did Cindy McCain Land Trump Administration Job?

After months of rejecting multiple job requests, businesswoman Cindy McCain has accepted a State Department position in the Trump administration, sourced told the Daily Beast on Monday.

Two senior administration officials, who requested anonymity, claimed it is a "done deal" for both parties. President Trump "aggressively courted" McCain to accept a position in his administration. Her potential title is a "U.S. ambassador-at-large for human rights."

Read: Twitter Reacts To McCain's Confusing Questions At Comey Hearing

McCain's path in joining the administration has been contentious. McCain, a known advocate for refugees and other humanitarian issues, and her husband Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, have both criticized Trump in the past. In October 2016, Sen. McCain withdrew his support for Trump, then the Republican presidential nominee.

"Donald Trump’s behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy," said Sen. McCain in a statement after "Access Hollywood" recordings were released.

On the campaign trail, Trump directed inflammatory comments at Sen. McCain and his family. He attacked Sen. McCain’s record of service in the Vietnam War, comments that Cindy McCain told NPR were "shallow and stupid." Trump also called Meghan McCain, the couple's daughter and a media personality frequently critical of Trump, “angry and obnoxious” in a September 2015 tweet.

Sen. McCain has also been critical of the scandals that have surrounded the Trump administration and its relationship with Russia.

“I think we’ve seen this movie before,” Sen. McCain said in May. “I think it’s reaching a point where it’s of 'Watergate size and scale,' and a couple of other scandals that you and I have seen. It’s a centipede that the shoe continues to drop.”

According to a White House official, Trump’s daughter and adviser, Ivanka Trump, had a strong role in encouraging her father to pursue Cindy McCain for a position in his administration. Ivanka Trump hosted an anti-human trafficking event at the White House last month and was reportedly impressed by Cindy McCain’s experience in working on global humanitarian issues. Cindy McCain was a former chairwoman of HALO USA, a humanitarian organization which clears war-torn communities of landmines and other unexploded bombs and devices. She has also been an advocate against sex trafficking.

The president had previously discussed the prospect of an administration position with Cindy McCain several times, including during a White House dinner Trump hosted for the McCains in April.

Read: John McCain Slams Jared Kushner’s Likely Talks With Russian Ambassador, Will Other Republicans Follow Suit?

“When [President Trump] sat down and ate with [John] McCain, it was always really to meet with the other McCain,” another senior Trump administration official with knowledge of the discussions said to the Daily Beast.