Mike Pompeo served as President-elect Donald Trump’s CIA director and as his secretary of state, and publicly endorsed his former boss after it was clear he won the 2024 primary elections.

With his past experience, he seems a shoo-in for a high-level position in a second Trump administration — but some on the right are sounding alarms against his being selected for a cabinet-level post.

Curt Mills, executive director of The American Conservative, called Pompeo “a real authoritarian;” Mills specifically noted Pompeo’s apparent support for the Biden administration’s targeting of Donald Trump over his possession of classified documents. In an interview on Fox in 2023, Pompeo said Trump’s supposed carelessness with classified documents was “inconsistent with protecting” America’s soldiers and seemed to indicate an openness to Trump being prosecuted.

Mills also highlighted Pompeo’s argument for “principled realism,” which seemed to open the door to continued interventions abroad.

Joining the chorus was senior editor of Human Events, Jack Posobiec, who labeled Pompeo a warmonger, and Ron Paul, who called him a neocon. Cartoonist Ben Garrison portrayed the former diplomat as a cheerleader for the military-industrial complex, while Gunther Eagleman, a conservative commentator, also noted his distaste for Pompeo, writing he “wanted Trump behind bars.”

Dave Smith, a popular libertarian podcaster, went off on Joe Rogan’s podcast on the need for Trump to purge his administration of war hawks like John Bolton and Mike Pompeo.

Wikileaks framed the debate as “the battle for the heart of the Trump administration,” placing Elon Musk on one side and Pompeo on the other.

If Pompeo is nominated, he will likely have no difficulty with his Senate confirmation, as he was confirmed as Secretary of State previously. To be clear, there are also many supporters of Pompeo on the right, such as Iran hawk Brian Hook, who will oversee hirings for the State Department.

If the anti-Pompeo sentiments continue, he may not even be nominated in the first place.

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Paul Bohac2 years ago

Trump has a unique opportunity that cannot be squandered. His Cabinet should be composed of and reflect the composition of America. He needs to avoid choosing Senators to serve, thus protecting the slim Senate majority. His search should look outside Washington and consider persons with administrative and executive experience who also have both political and social appeal across the American electorate. RFK Jr., Elon Musk, are already in the mix but Nicki Haley and Vivek Ramsey should also be considered. The one thing that must be avoided is appointments based purely on partisanship; there must be evidence of efforts of "healing". Dismantling the bureaucracy will be difficult. It will engendered a backlash. Explaining and justifying the process and benefits will require sensitivity and care. Someone who has the confidence of the electorate, who the electorate believes is basically honest and who can explain the process in simple terms will be needed.

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Chris Carbott2 years ago

Obviously, I am disappointed in Pompeo's past positions pitting him against Donald Trump. However, he is a talented and capable diplomat, and did a great job as SecState. If Trump himself can get past the political slights, then the rest of us should too. I would hate to see talent shunted aside for reasons of political retribution.

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Sherri S2 years ago

Your headline on this article sounds like most conservatives are opposed to Pompeo. This is not true when your "sources" are revealed. Come on. Pompeo fully supported Trump and kept us out of war.

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Steve Mortell 2 years ago

I like Paul Bohac response below. I heard Pompeo was against releasing the info on JFK’s assignation. If that’s true, then I am adamantly opposed to Pompeo regardless of any “security blah blah” excuse, and it IS an excuse. The country must be shown that information. Stop treating us like children and stop thinking you know best, BECAUSE YOU DONT! TRUTH!

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Alc Cookeville2 years ago

He did an outstanding job last time. We don't need a war hawk, but we do need a leader who our enemies and allies will listen to.

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Jonathan Horen2 years ago

I fully agree with Ron Paul's ongoing assessment of American foreign and economic policies, and I would hate to see any proven "neocon" -- like Mike Pompeo, or Victoria Nuland -- offered/given the position of Secretary of State. OTOH, Mike Pompeo's West Point education and subsequent combat-arms (Armor) service in the US Army ought to make him a "plus" as Secretary of Defense.

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Ernest Sidlo2 years ago

No to Mike... His loyalty is too questionable...

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Fr. Mark Wallace2 years ago

I am opposed to Pompeo being involved in Trump's administration. His strategy was to divide the people of Ukraine by helping to create the false (non-canonical) Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). This has led to state-sponsored violence, persecution and destruction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's properties which has been the religion of Ukraine for 1,000+ years. Our Western media and U. S. Congress virtually ignores this reality.

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