The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ripped White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Wednesday for suggesting President Trump already views CIA Director Mike Pompeo as “the nation’s chief diplomat” even though he hasn’t been confirmed as secretary of state.
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was responding to a remark Conway made during a White House conference call regarding Pompeo’s nomination to secretary of state. During the call, Conway said Pompeo’s recent trip to North Korea for a secret meeting with its leader, Kim Jong Un, indicates Trump is “already viewing Director Pompeo as the nation’s chief diplomat in what we expect will be his next role.”
“This is not about the President’s perception. No matter how President Trump sees it, Dir. Mike Pompeo is NOT the nation’s chief diplomat, as of today. Not according to Article II, section 2 of the Constitution. The Senate must confirm a cabinet official. #AdviseAndConsent,” Menendez tweeted.
This is not about the President’s perception. No matter how President Trump sees it, Dir. Mike Pompeo is NOT the nation’s chief diplomat, as of today. Not according to Article II, section 2 of the Constitution. The Senate must confirm a cabinet official. #AdviseAndConsent https://t.co/5sYVN4vsL3
— Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) April 18, 2018
Trump nominated Pompeo to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state last month. But Pompeo, the current director of the CIA, faces an uphill battle to be confirmed by the Senate.
Already, nine Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including Menendez, have said they will oppose Pompeo’s nomination. They are joined by one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, making it possible Pompeo receives a negative recommendation from the committee.
Pompeo could still be considered on the Senate floor even if the committee votes him down. But given the GOP’s narrow 51-49 majority, Paul’s opposition, and Sen. John McCain’s absence, Republicans cannot lose another GOP vote unless it can find a Democrat willing to support him.
