President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani removed himself from consideration for a position in the new administration.

Mr. Giuliani, who was an early supporter of Mr. Trump and one of the most prominent surrogates on the campaign trail, was a top contender for secretary of state but apparently had fallen out of favor with the president-elect in recent weeks.

“Rudy would have been an outstanding member of the Cabinet in several roles, but I fully respect and understand his reasons for remaining in the private sector,” Mr. Trump said in a statement.

Mr. Giuliani’s name also was floated for running the Department of Homeland Security, but the post is expected to go to retired Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly.

“This is not about me, it is about what is best for the country and the new administration,” Mr. Giuliani said in the statement provided by the transition team.

“Before I joined the campaign I was very involved and fulfilled by my work with my law firm and consulting firm, and I will continue that work with even more enthusiasm,” he said. “From the vantage point of the private sector, I look forward to helping the president-elect in any way he deems necessary and appropriate.”

Mr. Giuliani said that he joined the Trump campaign because he loved his country and was a friend of Mr. Trump’s for the past 28 years.

“I had no doubt he would be a great president,” said the former mayor.

Mr. Trump said that Mr. Giuliani was “an extraordinarily talented and patriotic American.”

“I will always be appreciative of his 24/7 dedication to our campaign after I won the primaries and for his extremely wise counsel,” he said. “He is and continues to be a close personal friend, and as appropriate, I will call upon him for advice and can see an important place for him in the administration at a later date.”

Mr. Giuliani will remain a vice chairman of the transition team, which is led by Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

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