Editorial Board

Keeping Trump’s Trust Is the Key to Reviving Diplomacy

CIA Director Mike Pompeo has at least one big advantage over the previous secretary of state.

April 13, 2018 at 11:00 AM UTC

By The Editorial Board

The Editorial Board publishes the views of the editors across a range of national and global affairs.

Yes, but Trump likes him.
Photographer: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

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This article is part of the April 23, 2018 issue of businessweek.

If it's true that proximity to President Donald Trump is the key to effective policy-making in his administration, then Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo stands a good chance to succeed -- whatever the merit of his policies. That's as it should be. To think otherwise is to misunderstand the role of the Secretary of State.

The job of this office-holder, fourth in the line of presidential succession, is to uphold the Constitution, execute the lawful policies of the president, and strengthen the effectiveness of the department he or she leads.