“You know, many people have said that I'm on the edge and I'm maverick for some of the big operations that I've done. I'm not at all. I pray; I ask God to give me wisdom, 'Should I do it?', guidance in terms of how to do it, who to consult with. All those kind of things are incredibly important.”

American neurosurgeon, academic, author, and government official

Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr. is an American neurosurgeon, academic, author, and government official. He has served as the National Nutrition Advisor at the Department of Agriculture since 2025, and earlier served as the 17th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2017 to 2021. He is also known for a career in medicine and for work beyond it, including writing and public service. He is a member of the Republican Party.