Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. said Saturday that President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE offered him the position of Education secretary but he turned it down.

Falwell reportedly told The Associated Press that Trump offered him the job last week in New York but that he declined it for personal reasons.

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Trump wanted a four- to six-year commitment for the position, but Falwell said he could not leave his school for more than two years to work in a Cabinet job.

Falwell also didn't want to move his family, including his teenage daughter, according to the AP.

Trump announced Wednesday his pick of GOP donor and school choice advocate Betsy DeVos to serve as Education secretary. Falwell called DeVos an "excellent choice."

The Liberty University president was an early backer of Trump, endorsing his outsider campaign in January as Trump sought to shore up support among evangelical voters.

Falwell at times caught flak for supporting the New York businessman, including from a member of the university's board and students at the evangelical school in Lynchburg, Va.