In the last days of Donald Trump’s presidency, one top deputy remained steadfastly loyal, even as others distanced themselves or resigned in protest.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has doubled his defense of Trump, criticizing those who have broken ranks and entangled him with the president’s followers, who will be vital to his own presidential ambitions.
“I think history will remember us very well,” Pompeo told a group of Republicans from the House a few days after Trump led a mob storming the Capitol on January 6.
‘Although I think we all think the violence that took place in the place where you all work in the Capitol was tragic, I’ve seen people walk away from this president. And they do not listen to the American people. Not at a distance, ”Pompeo said.
A future linked to Trump
Pompeo’s close affiliation with Trump has defined his tenure as the top diplomat in America. Both his supporters and critics believe that Pompeo has tried to place himself in the line of political succession, whether Trump remains king or becomes king.
As Secretary of State, Pompeo adopted Trump’s skepticism of European allies and international organizations and used a brash tone that reflected the president. He ignored an unwritten rule that state secretaries were supposed to avoid bare-knuckle partisan fighting without hesitating to shoot the previous government or Democrats in Congress.
He recently described as “stupid” President Barack Obama’s support for a distinctive arms control treaty, backed by both the Republican and Democratic governments.
He achieved what few in government could accomplish: a direct line to the president in four years. His predecessor, Rex Tillerson, along with other cabinet members and senior officials eventually clashed with the president, causing Trump’s anger, often via a tweet. But Pompeo survived without a large audience falling out.
As a result, foreign governments believed Pompeo had the president’s ear.
“If you travel the world and meet with leaders or if you talk to them by telephone, they should know that you have a relationship with the president which means you are in fact speaking on his behalf,” Pompeo said. a recent interview with Bloomberg.
Pompeo’s admirers, and even some of his critics within the diplomatic corps, say he has sent the president in a more constructive direction.
Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican Party who is an outspoken critic of Trump, said without Pompeo at work, Trump could have done more damage to America’s interests in the world.
‘If you look at the outcomes versus what the outcomes could have been, I’m a little glad Mike Pompeo was there. “I think people overlook it,” said Steele, an MSNBC contributor.
Lose rank and file
Career diplomats were initially relieved with Pompeo’s arrival as he scrapped Tillerson’s unpopular initiatives to revamp the department and elevated a number of experienced foreign service officials to senior positions.
But then came the Ukrainian indictment, with Trump and his supporters reprimanding diplomats who refused to thwart the attempt to oust Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
Pompeo chose not to cross Trump, and State Department staff members were shocked when they suddenly removed Marie “Masha” Yovanovitch, an experienced diplomat, as ambassador to Ukraine.
“It was so deeply upsetting to people in the State Department because Masha is respected and held,” said a former senior U.S. diplomat.
In a blow to Pompeo, Michael McKinley, a career diplomat who serves as Pompeo’s senior adviser, resigns in anger over the handling of Yovanovitch and other colleagues. After the Ukraine episode, Pompeo lost the trust of many people.
The foundation lies for 2024
As Trump’s term comes to an end, most senior figures keep a low profile, but not Pompeo. He issued a flurry of policy decisions and tweets, portraying himself as a historic foreign minister and a loyal servant of the president.
Pompeo this month overthrew decades of dual policies and lifted restrictions on government contacts with Taiwan, ignoring appeals from humanitarian aid organizations and branding Houthi forces in Yemen as terrorists, designating Cuba as a state sponsor of terror and declaring without providing evidence that Iran ‘ a ‘Home Base’ for Al Qaeda.
The quick pronouncements will cause headaches for the incoming Biden administration, as the moves are clearly at odds with the Biden team’s plans. However, hawkish policies are likely to go down well with Republican voters, including the Cuban Americans who trump Trump.
Pompeo’s recent moves are ‘not only designed to make it diplomatically difficult for Biden, but also so that he can go to his core ward and claim’ I stood up for you, unlike the other guy ‘,’ said Laura Kennedy , a retired ambassador has served 40 years as a foreign service officer.
Sanctions as a weapon of choice
Pompeo claims that under Trump, America pushed back against opponents and rogue regimes, rose up against China over trade and other issues, and withdrew from international organizations or multilateral arrangements that no longer served the country’s interests. Critics say the Trump administration has alienated allies, weakened the soft power of America and cost them dictators.
Sanctions have become the preferred diplomatic weapon for Pompeo and the Trump administration. But sanctions against Venezuela did not topple the Maduro regime in Caracas. International sanctions helped push North Korea to the negotiating table, but talks quickly collapsed. Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile arsenal has continued to grow since Trump took office.
Over Iran, which is a major focus for Pompeo, a wave of sanctions has caused severe economic damage, but the regime remains in power, maintains power of attorney in the Middle East and is now closer to securing a nuclear weapon .
“Under Secretary Pompeo, the U.S. has forged historic achievements,” the State Department said, referring to a list of policies, including the recognition of Israel by several Arab governments.
Pompeo and the Trump administration made a real diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East when the United Arab Emirates and several other Arab countries first normalized relations with Israel. While the initiatives were led by Jared Kushner, the State Department claims that the Iran campaign helped ‘maximize pressure’ to lay the groundwork for Arab countries to make the leap.
Dim the line
During his time as Secretary of State, Pompeo’s domestic travel, his partisan bombing, and his meetings with GOP donors and evangelicals all prompted questions as to whether he was using his office to advance his political career.
Pompeo also threw lavish dinners in the lavish Madison room at the State Department, as reported by NBC News, in which Republican donors were invited, as well as GOP lawmakers and Supreme Court justices.
The perception that he was blurring the line between legitimate government affairs and political activity prompted inquiries from Congress, the office of the special council as well as the inspector general of the state department.
Pompeo has recommended that Trump fire State Department inspector Steve Linick, who has opened several inquiries into the secretary. The decision prompted Democratic lawmakers to launch their own investigation into the removal of Linick, and the chairman of the State Department, Rep. Gregory Meeks, DN.Y., said the investigation will continue. Pompeo claims the move was not retaliation.
In his dealings with the press, it seemed as if Pompeo was imitating Trump and the media as a left-wing cable-like intention to slander the president. He called reporters’ questions at press conferences “insane”, “ridiculous” and “honestly ridiculous”, preferring to interview stores known for their right-wing views.
Pompeo’s intense relationship with the media could play well with Republican voters if he decides to apply for the GOP nomination in four years’ time. For the moment, he has refused to talk about what he plans to do after his time at Foggy Bottom comes to an end, but he encourages his Twitter fans to stay up to date.
“To serve your Secretary of State was the honor of a lifetime,” he wrote on January 15. “You can keep me following my @mikepompeo.”