According to a new report, Trump has begun searching for a new Secretary of State to replace Mike Pompeo.
Below are the reported two leading candidates for the position:
POLITICO – SIREN — WAPO’S JOSH ROGIN: “Trump is already searching for his next secretary of state”: “The person most often mentioned to succeed [Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo is national security adviser Robert O’Brien. Trump really likes O’Brien, several officials told me, and has given him increased diplomatic responsibilities since he became the president’s fourth national security adviser in September. O’Brien stood in for Trump at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Thailand in October. He accompanied Vice President Pence and Pompeo to Turkey to negotiate a Syria cease-fire. …
“The other main contender at this point is Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Some officials believe Mnuchin is angling for the job, and some say he is simply in contention but not actively lobbying. Either way, he’s on the list. Mnuchin is very close to Trump personally and has been treasury secretary for almost three years.” WaPo
What’s interesting about this is that Mike Pompeo has not yet said whether he is leaving the position to run for the US Senate in Kansas. It’s all rumor and speculation right now.
But Trump is proceeding with a replacement search, indicating he’s either unhappy with Pompeo’s performance or Pompeo has told him to begin the search because he’s leaving.
According to CNN’s Josh Rogin, Ambassador to Germany Richard Grinnell and Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun are also in the pool of leading candidates for the job. You can watch his analysis below: