Perry once assailed Trump as a "cancer on conservatism" and threw his support behind Texas Senator Ted Cruz after dropping out of the race in September 2015, but he has long been rumored to be one of Trump's main contenders for the energy post.
2015.gada septembrī izstājies no priekšvēlēšanu cīņas, Perijs pauda atbalstu Teksasas senatoram Tedam Krusam, bet Trampu raksturoja kā "konservatīvisma vēzi".