Senator Rand Paul says he is going to do whatever he can to block Donald Trump’s pick to be the next Secretary of State and Director of CIA. After firing Rex Tillerson yesterday Trump said Mike Pompeo, the current CIA Director would be nominated to replace Tillerson, and Gina Haspel would be designated to head the CIA, pending Senate approval. Paul says not so fast! Here are his thoughts.
Director Pompeo has not learned the lessons of regime change and wants regime change in Iran.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 14, 2018
I will continue to support President @realDonaldTrump, but I can’t support people who never understood America First and want to manipulate the President into the sphere of the neocons who never met a war they didn’t want to star in.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 14, 2018
President Trump sought to break with the foreign policy mistakes of the last two administrations. Yet now he picks for Secretary of State and CIA Director people who embody them, defend them, and, I’m afraid, will repeat them. I will not support their nominations.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 14, 2018
Senator Paul Press Conference on Secretary of State and CIA Nominations https://t.co/kQmxft8YI6
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 14, 2018
If Paul remains a no and John McCain doesn’t return to vote, both nominees could face a close confirmation vote.