With Mike Pompeo, a Voice More to Trump’s Liking CIA chief has balanced his close relationship with a president frequently critical of the intelligence community he oversees By Nancy A. Youssef

Posted By on March 14th, 2018

https://www.wsj.com/articles/pompeo-nomination-for-secretary-of-state-signals-shift-on-foreign-policy-1520963036

 “A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and Harvard University, Mr. Pompeo holds more hard-line views than his predecessor on two key foreign policy issues: Iran and North Korea.”

WASHINGTON— Donald Trump’s plan to nominate CIA Director Mike Pompeo to succeed Rex Tillerson as secretary of state positions a crucial Trump ally as the administration’s top diplomat, one who the president said is more in line with his foreign-policy vision.

Mr. Pompeo is among the few outsiders to have developed a seemingly close relationship with the president. The two meet each morning for the daily intelligence brief, conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency director. During the meetings, Mr. Pompeo explained the nuances of major international issues to Mr. Trump, officials close to him said. He also would, at times, bring in CIA staffers to explain a particular issue or how they obtained a key piece of intelligence.

As CIA director, Mr. Pompeo demanded the Counterintelligence Mission Center report to him, which some Trump administration critics said hampered the agency from aggressively pursuing charges of collusion between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign. He also pushed for more agents to go to the front lines of major conflict zones.

Notably, he delicately walked a line between a president who frequently criticized the intelligence community and the agents under his command angered by Mr. Trump’s remarks.

Because of his close relationship with the president, Mr. Pompeo’s name frequently appeared on shortlists for jobs inside the White House, including as a possible successor to chief of staff John Kelly. But some suggested the former Kansas congressman didn’t belong behind the White House walls, but rather on a larger platform than even the CIA directorship could offer.

In his new post, Mr. Pompeo will have a greater opportunity to shape those policies. Mr. Trump said Tuesday that Mr. Pompeo and he were “always on the same wavelength.” The White House faces a May 12 deadline for deciding whether to extend U.S. sanctions waivers on Iran. CONTINUE AT SITE

 

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