WEBVTT - Mike Pompeo 0:00:01.280 --> 0:00:04.800 Mike Pompeo was sworn in as Secretary of State on April. 0:00:07.000 --> 0:00:10.680 He previously served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency 0:00:10.800 --> 0:00:16.040 from January of seen to April. Prior to joining the 0:00:16.040 --> 0:00:19.200 Trump administration, Mr Pompeo was serving in his fourth term 0:00:19.239 --> 0:00:22.479 as a congressman from Kansas fourth District. He served on 0:00:22.520 --> 0:00:26.400 the House Intelligence Committee, the Energy and Commerce Committees, as 0:00:26.480 --> 0:00:30.440 well as the House Select Benghazi Committee. Pompeo sat down 0:00:30.440 --> 0:00:33.440 with David Rubinstein, co founder of the Carlisle Group and 0:00:33.479 --> 0:00:36.760 host of the Bloomberg television show Peer to Peer Conversations, 0:00:37.080 --> 0:00:42.000 to discuss his foreign policy priorities, sanctions against Iran, protecting 0:00:42.040 --> 0:00:45.960 the integrity of America's elections, and his relationship with the president. 0:00:46.400 --> 0:00:49.160 So um, he became our seventieth of the United States 0:00:49.200 --> 0:00:54.520 Secretary of State in April of two thou eighteen. Um, 0:00:54.560 --> 0:00:56.960 you're happy with the job. Is as much as fun 0:00:56.960 --> 0:01:00.760 as you thought it was going to be every day. 0:01:01.520 --> 0:01:05.000 So um, what are the most significant foreign policy issues 0:01:05.040 --> 0:01:06.520 of concern to you? What do you think are the 0:01:06.560 --> 0:01:08.960 biggest challenges we have in our country right now in 0:01:09.040 --> 0:01:12.120 foreign policy area? So you know, I could ask this 0:01:12.200 --> 0:01:14.920 question about sort of rank ordering the challenges. I mean, 0:01:14.959 --> 0:01:19.280 that's not an original question. I mean, so look, it's 0:01:19.319 --> 0:01:21.800 a it's important question where it's it's about priorities and 0:01:21.800 --> 0:01:24.800 resources and how do you allocate time and how do 0:01:24.840 --> 0:01:26.800 you think about the problems that you know. For me, 0:01:26.920 --> 0:01:29.320 the first the first task when I came in now 0:01:30.000 --> 0:01:32.280 to sixty and seventeen months ago to the State Department 0:01:32.280 --> 0:01:35.240 after after having been the CIA director, was to make 0:01:35.240 --> 0:01:36.840 sure the State Department was ready in the moment of 0:01:36.880 --> 0:01:41.640 crisis in terms of priorities. Uh, you know, every morning, 0:01:41.640 --> 0:01:43.840 the first thing I do is read about China. So 0:01:43.920 --> 0:01:46.960 I take time and talk about all the broad array 0:01:47.000 --> 0:01:50.639 of issues that present both real opportunity for that estates 0:01:50.680 --> 0:01:53.080 and risk to America from China. Let's talk about China 0:01:53.120 --> 0:01:55.400 for a moment. The trade negotiations are going on. You're 0:01:55.440 --> 0:01:57.880 not the lead in the trade negotiations, think Bob Lightheiser 0:01:57.960 --> 0:01:59.840 is taking the lead in that. But can you make 0:01:59.880 --> 0:02:02.840 a progress in non trade issues until the trade issue 0:02:02.880 --> 0:02:07.240 is resolved. Yeah, And and we we've made some um, 0:02:07.320 --> 0:02:11.480 we've out other places where we've gotten backwards. The Chinese 0:02:11.480 --> 0:02:15.000 have frankly been very helpful on North Korea, so they 0:02:15.040 --> 0:02:19.040 have done more to enforce the UN Security Council resolutions 0:02:19.080 --> 0:02:22.720 on North Korea than ever at any time in history. Um, 0:02:22.760 --> 0:02:25.080 they're they're helpful with us today in Afghanistan and the 0:02:25.080 --> 0:02:27.160 project there too. It's something folks don't spend a lot 0:02:27.200 --> 0:02:30.680 of time thinking about. H. So far, so good with 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:34.680 respect to respecting our sanctions enforcement on the Islamic Republic 0:02:34.680 --> 0:02:36.600 of Iran. But so there are places we can work 0:02:36.639 --> 0:02:39.040 with China. There are lots of diplomatic fronts where we 0:02:39.080 --> 0:02:41.760 have h We don't share the same values, but we 0:02:41.800 --> 0:02:44.160 have overlapping interests and we work on those problems. So 0:02:44.240 --> 0:02:46.440 you have been in North Korea and you've met with 0:02:46.480 --> 0:02:48.360 the leader of North Korea on a few occasions, and 0:02:48.400 --> 0:02:50.400 you've been there where the president has met with him. 0:02:50.440 --> 0:02:54.200 So what type of person is he? Does he have great? 0:02:54.360 --> 0:02:57.360 Interesting thoughts does he have? Did he speak English? Are 0:02:57.400 --> 0:02:59.400 do you communicate in English with him? And can you 0:02:59.480 --> 0:03:01.839 just can arize what your impression is of the leader 0:03:01.840 --> 0:03:03.880 of North Korea? Yeah, so I've spent more time with 0:03:03.960 --> 0:03:09.520 him than any American passed Dennis Rodman on the last trip. Okay, okay, 0:03:10.760 --> 0:03:14.919 so uh so so he look, he's he's he's bright, 0:03:15.200 --> 0:03:17.639 he he has managed. He has managed to rise to 0:03:17.639 --> 0:03:21.080 the level leadership in a difficult environment where he was 0:03:21.120 --> 0:03:24.200 a very young man when his time came. Uh. From 0:03:24.200 --> 0:03:26.640 my very first interaction with him, he's been very candid 0:03:27.160 --> 0:03:29.200 with me about the things that are important to him, 0:03:29.240 --> 0:03:32.440 the priority set and how the negotiations might proceed. Uh. 0:03:32.480 --> 0:03:34.560 He's now repeated that he's prepared to de nuclearized. It's 0:03:34.560 --> 0:03:37.720 not time to execute. Uh, and I hope that we 0:03:37.720 --> 0:03:40.320 can achieve that. Do you expect a third summit to 0:03:40.360 --> 0:03:42.680 be announced anytime soon? The date and time of it, 0:03:42.720 --> 0:03:45.160 and there's there's there's nothing in the works, okay, because 0:03:45.160 --> 0:03:47.720 there's not nothing planned. And um, why did the last 0:03:47.760 --> 0:03:50.160 summit end before the lunch even occurred? Why did it 0:03:50.320 --> 0:03:54.839 kind of abruptly end? Uh? There was a big bit 0:03:54.920 --> 0:03:58.800 esque spread to put it in economic torran. Uh. We 0:03:58.920 --> 0:04:01.040 we'd had an umber. I can't go into all the 0:04:01.080 --> 0:04:02.800 just but we had a number of conversations about a 0:04:02.800 --> 0:04:04.400 broad range of issues in the run up to that. 0:04:04.480 --> 0:04:07.280 My team it worked very very hard, UH, and it 0:04:07.400 --> 0:04:09.600 just turned out that the idea that the leaders could 0:04:09.640 --> 0:04:12.600 bridge that gap in that moment turned out to not 0:04:12.680 --> 0:04:14.360 work that day. But do you think they're The U 0:04:14.480 --> 0:04:17.120 S position has been that we would not lift sanctions 0:04:17.160 --> 0:04:20.000 until there was a so called d nuclearization. But would 0:04:20.040 --> 0:04:23.960 you be willing to consider having the North Koreans keep 0:04:24.000 --> 0:04:26.640 whatever they have in nuclear weapons now and then lift 0:04:26.680 --> 0:04:28.560 sanctions that they didn't do more than they have now 0:04:28.680 --> 0:04:32.440 or is that something too hypothetical? Too hypothetical? Okay, I 0:04:32.480 --> 0:04:35.080 didn't want to give you the answer, but all right, 0:04:35.160 --> 0:04:38.279 So look, I'll say this, I've I've talked about this 0:04:38.400 --> 0:04:40.920 publicly a couple of times. We hope that there are 0:04:40.920 --> 0:04:43.360 creative solutions to unlocking this. It is a very difficult 0:04:43.440 --> 0:04:45.960 challenge for each of us. We have to remember too, 0:04:46.000 --> 0:04:48.839 these aren't U S sanctions. These are UN Security Council resolutions. 0:04:48.839 --> 0:04:51.919 These are global sanctions put on by every single country, 0:04:51.960 --> 0:04:53.600 and so we are we are mindful that we are 0:04:53.640 --> 0:04:56.520 the steward for enforcing those. Let's go to easier part 0:04:56.560 --> 0:04:59.720 of the world, the Middle East. Okay, So, um, this 0:05:00.040 --> 0:05:03.440 rates or for moves? Are we committed to keeping open 0:05:03.480 --> 0:05:07.560 the straight so far moves at any cost militarily, We're 0:05:07.760 --> 0:05:10.000 going to keep them open. Uh. Well, We're going to 0:05:10.080 --> 0:05:14.360 build out a maritime security plan. Um. Countries from all 0:05:14.400 --> 0:05:16.320 across the world who have a vested interest in keeping 0:05:16.320 --> 0:05:19.640 those wider ways open will participate. Uh. It will take 0:05:19.640 --> 0:05:21.280 more time than we wish it would take, but I'm 0:05:21.360 --> 0:05:24.080 very confident that the world understands its importance. That America 0:05:24.160 --> 0:05:25.720 is prepared to be a significant part of that. But 0:05:25.760 --> 0:05:27.600 we need countries from all across the world to assist 0:05:27.680 --> 0:05:30.240 us in protecting commercial transit. What will be successful what 0:05:30.240 --> 0:05:32.320 our position, I presume is that if the U. S 0:05:32.320 --> 0:05:36.320 ship were taken by the Iranians, we would presumably do 0:05:36.440 --> 0:05:39.479 something militarily. I guess I don't know, But what about 0:05:39.480 --> 0:05:41.839 if if a ship is taken that's a British ship 0:05:41.920 --> 0:05:45.719 or some other nationality, or we not committed to recovering 0:05:45.720 --> 0:05:49.400 that ship or doing something to defend those ships. We 0:05:49.480 --> 0:05:52.360 are working I was working with what I guess I'm 0:05:52.360 --> 0:05:54.400 not working with my third British Ford Minister, since that's 0:05:54.400 --> 0:05:57.800 been a secondary state, but working with the British to 0:05:57.920 --> 0:06:02.240 find the solution to both a UH, right that injustice 0:06:02.279 --> 0:06:04.520 and second prevent it from happening again. So to establish 0:06:04.560 --> 0:06:07.320 the turrets. That's the mission set. Recently, you gave a 0:06:07.400 --> 0:06:09.440 visa for the Foreign Minister of Iran to come to 0:06:09.440 --> 0:06:14.040 the United States, for you an event. Yes, yes, okay. 0:06:14.200 --> 0:06:16.600 So when he was in the United States, were there 0:06:16.600 --> 0:06:19.720 any indirect or direct talks with him and the State 0:06:19.760 --> 0:06:22.800 Department about anything that you can talk about? No talks, 0:06:23.520 --> 0:06:27.680 No talks and okay. And although he spoke, the American 0:06:27.720 --> 0:06:30.080 media decided to give him a megaphone to talk about 0:06:30.640 --> 0:06:32.880 things that are untrue going on in the Islambic Republic 0:06:32.920 --> 0:06:35.160 of Iran and gave him a chance to lie vociferously 0:06:35.240 --> 0:06:37.360 to the American people. I look forward to the chance 0:06:37.440 --> 0:06:39.240 to speak to the Iranian people in that same way, 0:06:39.760 --> 0:06:42.440 but truthfully, all right, tell them honestly about what's going 0:06:42.440 --> 0:06:44.880 on inside of their own country. I so far, they've 0:06:44.920 --> 0:06:47.040 not taken me up on that offer. How President Trump 0:06:47.120 --> 0:06:50.440 has imposed uh tough sanctions on Iran. Do you think 0:06:50.440 --> 0:06:51.960 they are going to have the effect of bringing it 0:06:52.040 --> 0:06:54.760 Ran to a negotiating table or not. You have to 0:06:54.760 --> 0:06:56.880 step back and think about what we're doing more broadly 0:06:56.920 --> 0:06:59.840 in the Middle East with respect to Iran. It's the 0:06:59.839 --> 0:07:03.960 warld's largest state sponsor of terror. It has the capacity 0:07:04.000 --> 0:07:06.680 to continue to work towards developing a nuclear weapons system, 0:07:06.720 --> 0:07:09.960 which would cause proliferation risks all throughout the Middle East, 0:07:10.280 --> 0:07:12.440 and so we are very concerned about that as well. 0:07:12.480 --> 0:07:17.480 Are are Are are chosen strategy was to take a 0:07:17.560 --> 0:07:20.440 hundred eighty degree term from what the previous administration has done. 0:07:20.720 --> 0:07:24.200 They created opportunity for enormous wealth for the kleptocrats in 0:07:24.240 --> 0:07:29.640 Iran and for them to underwrite Hezbollah militious in Iraq, UH, 0:07:29.960 --> 0:07:32.240 the Hooties and Yemen that are even as we speak, 0:07:32.680 --> 0:07:36.400 preparing to continue their attacks on Saudi Arabia. UH. We 0:07:36.480 --> 0:07:38.240 we've decided to go the other way. We're trying to 0:07:38.280 --> 0:07:41.720 reduce their resources to conduct terror campaigns all around the world, 0:07:41.720 --> 0:07:43.800 build out their missile systems and their nuclear program. And 0:07:43.800 --> 0:07:47.440 we've been incredibly effective that I remember, David, I'm sure 0:07:47.440 --> 0:07:49.280 no one in this room, but many here in Washington 0:07:49.320 --> 0:07:53.119 said that American sanctions alone won't work. Well, they've worked. 0:07:54.080 --> 0:07:56.800 We have taken over the crude oil that was being 0:07:56.800 --> 0:07:58.560 shipped by around all around the one. We have taken 0:07:58.560 --> 0:08:00.320 it off the market. We've done so what I checked 0:08:00.320 --> 0:08:03.920 when I came in, Brent CREWD is at four uh 0:08:04.200 --> 0:08:06.680 sent eight percent lower than when we withdrew from the 0:08:06.720 --> 0:08:08.120 j C p o A. So we have we have 0:08:08.240 --> 0:08:11.520 managed both to protect the economic growth that the world 0:08:11.640 --> 0:08:15.080 needs while doing our best to denied resources to the 0:08:15.120 --> 0:08:19.120 Islamic Republic run regual prospect of another Iranian agreement, one 0:08:19.160 --> 0:08:21.520 that's more favorable to your point of view and the 0:08:21.560 --> 0:08:24.600 presidence point of view, is that likely to happen this year, 0:08:24.680 --> 0:08:27.040 next year, or you just can't predict. I don't do time. 0:08:28.160 --> 0:08:32.679 I time timelines are a fool's Errand in my business, 0:08:32.840 --> 0:08:35.400 the Iranians are now enriching uranium at a greater level 0:08:35.440 --> 0:08:38.200 than they were before. Do you worry that somebody Israel 0:08:38.440 --> 0:08:43.000 might attack the Iranian facilities or you're not worried about that. Yes, 0:08:43.040 --> 0:08:45.880 they're enriching more than they were under the agreement. Their 0:08:45.920 --> 0:08:51.520 temporary their temporary reduction in enriched uranium has now ended. 0:08:51.880 --> 0:08:54.840 They're moving back in the wrong direction. We're urging them 0:08:54.840 --> 0:08:57.400 to think about. But for us, it's not about these 0:08:57.800 --> 0:08:59.920 levels set in the j c p o A, all right, 0:09:00.040 --> 0:09:03.240 And it's about the capacity to build at a nuclear 0:09:03.240 --> 0:09:06.040 weapons system in a time frame that matters to you 0:09:06.120 --> 0:09:08.520 and your kids and your grandkids. The previous agreement didn't 0:09:08.600 --> 0:09:11.319 remotely touch that. In the Middle East, do you see 0:09:11.320 --> 0:09:15.240 any prospect for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. There's 0:09:15.280 --> 0:09:18.280 been talk of a plan and UH, do you see 0:09:18.280 --> 0:09:21.560 any progress being made? So there's a reason it hasn't 0:09:21.600 --> 0:09:27.080 been solved for forty years or more. UM. In the end, UH, 0:09:27.200 --> 0:09:29.199 this will be the decision of the Prime Minister of 0:09:29.240 --> 0:09:32.319 Israel and the leadership UH in the West Bank and Gaza. 0:09:32.440 --> 0:09:36.480 I I haven't been deeply involved in Mr Kushner's efforts there, 0:09:36.600 --> 0:09:38.800 but is our position in the United States government position 0:09:38.840 --> 0:09:41.200 that we prefer a one state solution or a two 0:09:41.200 --> 0:09:45.400 state solution. You'll see our plan shortly, Okay, we give 0:09:45.480 --> 0:09:50.000 us a hint or okay we were We prefer with 0:09:50.080 --> 0:09:53.400 the Palestinians and the Israelis agreed to and what the 0:09:53.520 --> 0:09:56.960 nature of that relationship will look like. Now, negotiations are 0:09:57.000 --> 0:09:59.480 underway with the Taliban in the Middle East. The US 0:09:59.559 --> 0:10:02.000 has involved. Other than that, you see any progress in 0:10:02.120 --> 0:10:05.719 reducing our need to be in Afghanistan anything and in 0:10:05.800 --> 0:10:09.240 your future real progress. I try not to do timelines, 0:10:09.280 --> 0:10:12.880 but I'm optimistic. We're not just negotiating with the talentban 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:15.880 that's the story. The truth of the matter is we're 0:10:15.880 --> 0:10:19.640 talking to all Afghans. So we've spoken with the President 0:10:19.640 --> 0:10:23.079 Ghani I spoke to him on Friday night or Friday morning, UH, 0:10:23.920 --> 0:10:26.560 speaking with the opposition, those folks that are not inside 0:10:26.600 --> 0:10:30.560 the government's speaking with Taliban officials. We have Massa Khalilasade 0:10:30.520 --> 0:10:33.880 has worked all across Afghanistan with I'M when I was 0:10:33.920 --> 0:10:36.400 there last, I met with njo's, I met with women's groups, 0:10:37.320 --> 0:10:39.440 a broad swath of Afghanistan. We want them to take 0:10:39.559 --> 0:10:41.960 their country back, and we want to reduce what is 0:10:42.000 --> 0:10:44.280 for us tens of billions of dollars a year and 0:10:44.360 --> 0:10:48.520 expenditures and enormous risk to your kids and your grandkids 0:10:48.559 --> 0:10:50.680 who are fighting for America. We we think there's a 0:10:50.720 --> 0:10:54.720 path to reduce violence, achieved reconciliation, and still make sure 0:10:54.760 --> 0:10:59.080 that the American counter terrorism effort in Afghanistan UH has 0:10:59.080 --> 0:11:00.880 a value in the potential to reduce risk here in 0:11:00.880 --> 0:11:03.760 the States. Before the next presidential election in the United States, 0:11:03.760 --> 0:11:06.760 would you expect we reduced, reduced our troops in Afghanistan. 0:11:07.880 --> 0:11:10.959 That's my directive from the President United States. He's been unambiguous, 0:11:11.000 --> 0:11:13.160 and the endless Wars draw down reduced. It won't just 0:11:13.200 --> 0:11:15.319 be us, UH, those of you who have served, no 0:11:15.480 --> 0:11:18.520 that resolute support has countries from all across Europe and 0:11:18.559 --> 0:11:21.520 around the world. So on Russia, Um, you've met with 0:11:21.800 --> 0:11:24.960 Mr Putin any times? I assume a few times, Yes, sir. 0:11:25.080 --> 0:11:28.280 And any impressions of him that you might convey, is 0:11:28.280 --> 0:11:31.160 he very smart, very tough? Does he understand English that 0:11:31.240 --> 0:11:34.080 you convey your thoughts to him in English? Or does 0:11:34.080 --> 0:11:36.480 he have an interpreter? I think I think he speaks 0:11:36.480 --> 0:11:40.560 English plenty. Well, Okay, Look, he's he's very clear about 0:11:40.559 --> 0:11:42.240 the things that are in Russia's interest, the things they're 0:11:42.280 --> 0:11:45.400 working on. Uh. You know, we had a strategic dialogue 0:11:45.400 --> 0:11:48.120 with them, Uh, that we hope will build into something 0:11:48.120 --> 0:11:50.960 that handles a broad set of proliferation issues, not just 0:11:51.040 --> 0:11:54.679 nuclear proliferation issues, but a broad array of proliferations. We 0:11:54.720 --> 0:11:57.800 hope China will will join that set of conversations. We 0:11:57.880 --> 0:12:00.760 think today's in today's world, these are humans need to 0:12:00.760 --> 0:12:03.599 have China be part of them. And I hope that 0:12:03.640 --> 0:12:05.680 President Putin will support us, and I think he will. 0:12:06.240 --> 0:12:07.920 You were the head of the CIA at the beginning 0:12:07.960 --> 0:12:09.839 of this administration. Do you have any doubt that the 0:12:09.920 --> 0:12:15.720 Russians interfered with our lance presidential election? Oh? None, none, Okay, So, 0:12:15.960 --> 0:12:19.320 um have been the one before that, and the one 0:12:19.400 --> 0:12:23.959 before that, and the one before that, and the one 0:12:23.960 --> 0:12:27.800 in ten. People forget we've had an election since st ip. 0:12:27.840 --> 0:12:30.080 People say, oh, we have to protect the good people 0:12:30.120 --> 0:12:32.400 who ran in and cared a lot about us protecting 0:12:32.440 --> 0:12:35.600 that one. We did so very effectively, and we'll do 0:12:35.679 --> 0:12:37.960 so again. And it's not it's the last thing. I 0:12:38.080 --> 0:12:40.360 just I know this town. You know exactly what will 0:12:40.360 --> 0:12:43.400 get reported, just so you know it. Anxious Russia. That's 0:12:43.440 --> 0:12:46.400 bad English, try and correct it. Um. There are there 0:12:46.400 --> 0:12:49.120 are more nations than just Russia who are attempting to 0:12:49.200 --> 0:12:52.559 undermine Western democracy. That has been true since the founders 0:12:53.200 --> 0:12:55.560 I created this great nation, and so we have to 0:12:55.600 --> 0:12:58.600 be ever vigilant. There is legislation that's passed the House 0:12:58.640 --> 0:13:01.000 and now in the Senate to um and give more 0:13:01.040 --> 0:13:03.320 resources to keep the Russians from being able to do 0:13:03.320 --> 0:13:06.599 this again. Is the administration supportive of the legislation and 0:13:06.640 --> 0:13:09.400 which seems to be blocked right now in the Senate. Yeah, 0:13:09.440 --> 0:13:11.760 I don't know the details of the legislation. I'm convinced 0:13:12.000 --> 0:13:14.560 the State Department has all the resource resources it needs 0:13:14.600 --> 0:13:17.000 to perform It's part of that function. We we have 0:13:17.080 --> 0:13:19.080 what we need we have the authorities we need, we 0:13:19.120 --> 0:13:20.920 have the money we need. It's the burden is on 0:13:21.000 --> 0:13:23.960 me to execute. And have you communicated to Mr Putin 0:13:24.040 --> 0:13:26.280 that we do not like what he's done before and 0:13:26.320 --> 0:13:29.319 he shouldn't do it again on a number of occasions. 0:13:29.559 --> 0:13:35.280 And what's his response? Noted? Okay, that's a that's a 0:13:35.320 --> 0:13:40.760 diplomatic term for I hear you, brother, so um okay, Um. 0:13:40.800 --> 0:13:43.560 He doesn't admit anything, I assume, but okay, So with 0:13:43.600 --> 0:13:46.760 respect to England, there's a new prime minister. You have 0:13:46.840 --> 0:13:49.360 met bars Johnson before? I have. I met him when 0:13:49.360 --> 0:13:51.760 I was CI director and uh I believe he was 0:13:51.760 --> 0:13:55.640 Foreign Secretary at the time. When there's the current Trump administration, 0:13:55.679 --> 0:13:57.960 support a Brexit or would you prefer that there be 0:13:58.000 --> 0:14:00.160 a remain or do you not take a position on uh? 0:14:01.240 --> 0:14:05.200 A confidence in the British people? Okay, Now, the British 0:14:05.240 --> 0:14:11.080 ambassador had to resign because his cables were leaked by somebody. Um, 0:14:11.160 --> 0:14:13.199 do you tell your own ambassadors they should be a 0:14:13.200 --> 0:14:15.000 little bit more careful about what they say to you 0:14:15.040 --> 0:14:17.599 because somebody could leak what they're alrighty is that a 0:14:17.640 --> 0:14:21.360 worry not at all? And if I did, they'd ignore me, okay, 0:14:21.440 --> 0:14:23.560 I mean right, they have a duty, they have responsibility. 0:14:23.680 --> 0:14:25.960 Our task is for them to tell us what they're seeing. 0:14:25.960 --> 0:14:29.160 Than we expect that they'll report them accurately, truthfully, candidly, 0:14:29.160 --> 0:14:31.400 and then our mission is to make sure they don't 0:14:31.440 --> 0:14:35.520 end up in the Washington Post. Now abas suspect to Mexico, Um, 0:14:35.560 --> 0:14:38.040 we have been concerned about people coming over the border. 0:14:38.080 --> 0:14:40.400 Are you confident that the Mexican government is now doing 0:14:40.400 --> 0:14:42.840 what it can to keep more people from not coming 0:14:42.880 --> 0:14:46.320 over the border. They are, So they're doing enough, you think, 0:14:46.400 --> 0:14:50.480 or you know, it's not enough, and they still have 0:14:50.960 --> 0:14:54.360 a high side of two thousand every day. It's uh, 0:14:54.360 --> 0:14:56.920 it's unacceptable, and so they need to do more. We 0:14:57.000 --> 0:14:59.920 need to do more. Congress needs to change the rule. 0:15:00.720 --> 0:15:03.680 We have to create a deterrence, right, and it has 0:15:03.720 --> 0:15:05.840 to be the case that those who want to come 0:15:05.840 --> 0:15:07.960 here legally can and those who want to come by 0:15:08.000 --> 0:15:11.440 some other mechanism choose not to because they understand that 0:15:11.480 --> 0:15:13.160 it not they're not going to find a way. I 0:15:13.160 --> 0:15:15.000 remember this as a member of Congress. People would call 0:15:15.040 --> 0:15:18.200 my office and say, uh, hey, we we we we 0:15:18.280 --> 0:15:20.120 live in pick a country around the world. They say 0:15:20.160 --> 0:15:24.600 they want to come here and get citizenship. And you know, anyway, 0:15:24.600 --> 0:15:26.080 I won't tell you the joke I told, but but 0:15:26.120 --> 0:15:27.640 the simplest way to do would be go to Mexico 0:15:27.680 --> 0:15:30.200 and come on. But what you want to encourage them 0:15:30.240 --> 0:15:33.280 to do is father paperwork, go through the lawful process, 0:15:33.760 --> 0:15:36.400 becomes citizens. Were the most welcoming nation in the world. 0:15:36.400 --> 0:15:39.600 We will always be. But it's not the case that 0:15:39.680 --> 0:15:42.360 we can be lawless or have our sovereignty broken through 0:15:42.400 --> 0:15:45.320 having this mass immigration in a non lawful mechanism. It's 0:15:45.360 --> 0:15:48.520 truly there's a national security risk. Speaking of south of 0:15:48.560 --> 0:15:51.640 the border Venezuela. Would the U. S. Ever send troops 0:15:51.640 --> 0:15:54.720 in if that was necessary to keep further violence from 0:15:54.760 --> 0:15:56.760 occurring there? So you started trying to get me at 0:15:56.760 --> 0:15:59.800 the beginning, now you're trying at the end. The President 0:15:59.840 --> 0:16:02.240 is pretty clearly we're gonna do all that it takes 0:16:02.240 --> 0:16:04.480 to make sure the Venezuelan people get democracy back. And 0:16:04.480 --> 0:16:07.560 that's the that's the mission said how President Trump has 0:16:07.600 --> 0:16:10.240 sometimes tweeted things that are not favorable about some people 0:16:10.280 --> 0:16:13.880 working for him. Uh, he's never tweeted anything unfavorable about you. 0:16:14.200 --> 0:16:17.520 It's early, it's early, So what is the what is 0:16:17.560 --> 0:16:20.840 the secret of your success in your relationship with President 0:16:20.840 --> 0:16:22.560 You didn't know him before he was elected, did you? 0:16:22.760 --> 0:16:24.960 I did not. I met him the day I uh, 0:16:25.080 --> 0:16:27.800 I interviewed the BCI director just and who recommended you 0:16:27.840 --> 0:16:30.280 to be CI in director? I don't know for sure, 0:16:30.760 --> 0:16:32.680 I don't, I don't, I don't know. I mean, the 0:16:32.840 --> 0:16:36.240 CIA doesn't have the ability to figure out who recommended you. 0:16:38.120 --> 0:16:41.160 Should you should thing that you've never believed that I 0:16:41.320 --> 0:16:44.600 only does for an s Okay, I got I've never 0:16:44.640 --> 0:16:47.920 been able to convince you. But somebody recommended you. You 0:16:48.000 --> 0:16:49.920 had an interview with I think the Vice president was 0:16:49.960 --> 0:16:52.080 likely the person who who I had known and served 0:16:52.120 --> 0:16:54.400 with as a member of Congress. And did you say 0:16:54.520 --> 0:16:56.040 I like the C I a job, but I'd like 0:16:56.080 --> 0:16:57.960 to be Secretary State or this came at of a 0:16:58.000 --> 0:17:00.440 surprise to you. It was a complete surprise me. I 0:17:00.600 --> 0:17:02.840 was and I was honored to serve as the director 0:17:02.880 --> 0:17:06.680 of the Central Intelligence Agency. Okay, so some people say 0:17:06.760 --> 0:17:10.480 that you should run for the Senate from Kansas. In fact, 0:17:10.520 --> 0:17:12.600 Mitch McConnell I think has twisted your arm a few 0:17:12.600 --> 0:17:15.920 times to do that. Um, can you say definitively that 0:17:15.960 --> 0:17:18.320 you will not run. The filing date is June of 0:17:18.400 --> 0:17:22.440 two thousand twenty. You probably know so any Uh, I didn't, 0:17:22.480 --> 0:17:25.800 but thank you for reminding. Okay, so would you consider that? 0:17:25.880 --> 0:17:27.840 Are you putting that off the table for a while 0:17:27.920 --> 0:17:30.520 or it's it's off the table. As as a practical matter, 0:17:30.640 --> 0:17:32.800 I'm going to serve as Secretary of State every day 0:17:32.840 --> 0:17:35.320 that I get the chance to do so. Look, uh, 0:17:35.440 --> 0:17:37.000 we all serve at the president of the pleasidents. You 0:17:37.040 --> 0:17:40.439 talked about that Director Coates, who I have enormous respect 0:17:40.480 --> 0:17:43.639 for be leaving the administration, saying he's served nobly. Uh. 0:17:43.680 --> 0:17:46.800 There there's a time for everyone, and I hope I 0:17:46.840 --> 0:17:48.560 get to do this for a while longer. UM. My 0:17:48.600 --> 0:17:51.600 experience is that sometimes when people get close to a president, 0:17:51.600 --> 0:17:53.479 they see the job up close, they say, well, well, 0:17:53.560 --> 0:17:55.679 I can do that job too. Has that occurred to 0:17:55.720 --> 0:17:58.359 you that maybe, um, you could do the job, And 0:17:58.359 --> 0:18:01.360 would you have any interest in running for president at 0:18:01.400 --> 0:18:04.640 some point in your life? I try to answer this consistently. 0:18:04.720 --> 0:18:07.280 I have never been able to predict what my next 0:18:07.320 --> 0:18:10.120 gig will be, and I suspect that's that's the case 0:18:10.119 --> 0:18:13.000 with respect to this. I I will say this, um, 0:18:13.400 --> 0:18:15.040 the service that I've had the chance to do. I'm 0:18:15.040 --> 0:18:17.639 almost twenty years now in federal service. Eighteen years of 0:18:17.680 --> 0:18:20.240 federal services. In my time in the army, uh and 0:18:20.240 --> 0:18:22.320 then in Congress and now in the executive branch. It 0:18:22.440 --> 0:18:24.760 has been a blessing. I hope I've left things a 0:18:24.800 --> 0:18:27.200 little bit better, and I I do feel an obligation. 0:18:27.200 --> 0:18:28.920 America has given me an awful lot. Enough I thought 0:18:28.960 --> 0:18:32.200 I could do a good turn. Um, there's there's nothing 0:18:32.240 --> 0:18:35.680 I wouldn't consider doing for America. Okay, Let's suppose president 0:18:35.720 --> 0:18:38.280 is re elected. Would you be willing to serve as 0:18:38.320 --> 0:18:40.600 Secretary of State for one to three or four years 0:18:40.600 --> 0:18:42.720 of a second term or have you thought about that yet? 0:18:42.760 --> 0:18:47.000 I haven't thought about it yet. Uh. You know, hard 0:18:47.040 --> 0:18:48.800 to know, hard to answer those questions that the real 0:18:48.880 --> 0:18:51.119 question is what the president still want. Mike Pompeo is 0:18:51.119 --> 0:18:54.760 a Secretary of State. Okay. So, Um, when you have 0:18:54.880 --> 0:18:57.040 decisions with the president, meetings with him? Does he best 0:18:57.080 --> 0:19:00.760 with oral communications, written communications? And what's the process by 0:19:00.800 --> 0:19:03.440 which decisions are made? Is it through the NFC or 0:19:03.480 --> 0:19:08.840 informal So there's a very robust NSC process. When I 0:19:08.880 --> 0:19:12.320 brief him myself, I always prefer to have documents the 0:19:12.320 --> 0:19:15.000 way I prefer to receive information. UM, so I almost 0:19:15.040 --> 0:19:18.239 always bring something, uh one page summary at the very 0:19:18.320 --> 0:19:20.480 least that says here, here's the outline of what it 0:19:20.560 --> 0:19:22.000 is that I think are the priorities and how we 0:19:22.000 --> 0:19:24.560 should think about how we should frame this particular problem. 0:19:24.680 --> 0:19:28.560 And then the President does like to engage in oral exchanges, 0:19:28.640 --> 0:19:31.840 and I've found them to be elucidating for myself. I 0:19:31.880 --> 0:19:34.720 often learned things as well. He's very focused on where 0:19:34.760 --> 0:19:37.040 the money is, how we use economic leverage to achieve 0:19:37.080 --> 0:19:40.120 our diplomatic ins Now, except when Henry Kissinger was both 0:19:40.160 --> 0:19:42.840 Secretary of State and NASH Security Advisor at the same time, 0:19:42.880 --> 0:19:45.399 generally there's been some tension between Secretaries of State and 0:19:45.520 --> 0:19:48.640 nashcurity advisors. How is your relationship with John Bolton? Yeah, 0:19:48.640 --> 0:19:51.120 I mean, look, there's there's always tension among leaders of 0:19:51.240 --> 0:19:54.000 different organizations. We we come at these things with from 0:19:54.040 --> 0:19:58.879 a different viewpoint, uh, Bassator Bolton has is responsibility to 0:19:58.880 --> 0:20:00.679