On March 29, Jackson Diehl, the Washington Post’s deputy editorial page editor, published a column labeling Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “among the worst secretaries of state ever” based on his response to the coronavirus pandemic.

I’m no Trump flunky nor afraid to criticize his administration. I signed the original “Never Trump” letter and continue to stand by it, but try not to succumb to “Trump derangement syndrome.” Most often, I disagree with the president, although, when I agree with him, I am frustrated that Trump’s antics undercut policy adaption and implementation. I have also criticized Pompeo’s State Department at times, especially with regard to its promotion of the Taliban deal and strategic incoherence with regard to the fight against Islamist radicalism, especially on Libya, Turkey, and Somalia.