WASHINGTON Secretary of State Mike Pompeo may have publicly ruled out a run for Senate next year. But some advisers to President Donald Trump dont believe him.
At the White House, some of the presidents top foreign policy aides see political mindfulness in Pompeos recent actions on Iran and North Korea policy a cautiousness around Trump that belies his assertive public persona.
Skepticism of Pompeo within the West Wing, particularly among National Security Council officials, is rooted in deep and longstanding policy divisions between Trumps White House and State Department. But sources in both camps describe a secretary of state highly concerned with his media image, fueling speculation about his political ambitions.
The widely held assumption is that hes preparing a run, because he wants the reputation of a tough man without having to take on all the political risks that position requires, one senior administration official said. Pompeo has never stopped being a congressman hes a congressman serving as a secretary of state.
The fear is getting fired like the last guy and having his entire political career ended by tweet, the official added.
A second official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly, told McClatchy that Pompeo appeared to be tempering his instincts on Iran and North Korea to appease a president wary of being cornered into unwanted conflicts.
In one Oval Office meeting, at the Resolute Desk standing beside National Security Advisor John Bolton, Pompeo demurred in a debate over scrapping sanctions waivers for allies cooperating on nuclear work with Iran, vacillating in front of Trump despite privately supporting the policy.
An ally of Pompeo in the administration pushed back at the notion that he pulled punches. Secretary Pompeo has never shied away from sharing his thoughts about foreign policy. Anyone who tries to say otherwise clearly hasnt been paying attention to his career here in Washington, the administration official said.
The president, by all accounts, maintains confidence in his top diplomat. But Trump is aware of the speculation in Washington that Pompeo may be considering running for office.
Pompeos inner circle rejects this narrative, arguing that his focus remains on his current job.
Some in the White House see Pompeo appearing to lay the groundwork for a graceful exit from the administration that avoids the humiliating fate of his predecessor, Rex Tillerson, who was fired, and more closely resembles the balletic departure of Nikki Haley, who stepped down as United Nations ambassador with praise from Trump.
Haley, a former South Carolina governor, is considered most likely to challenge Pompeo for the Republican Party mantle in 2024.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., hasnt been shy about sharing his preference that Pompeo succeed Sen. Pat Roberts when the Kansan retires at the end of his current term.
Pompeo has repeatedly said he has no plans to run for Senate in 2020, but calls for Pompeo to enter the race have only intensified following former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobachs entry into the race this month.
A source familiar with the secretarys thinking pushed back against the notion that Pompeo had already shifted his focus to future political campaigns.
Knowing Mike, a graceful transition out is not something he would plan, said the source, echoing other advocates of Pompeo. For Mike, a graceful transition would be getting the job done and leaving. I dont think he thinks his work is done. He wouldnt ever do anything if he thought it would leave the president or the country in a lurch.
