Rand Paul Reverses, Will Back Mike Pompeo’s Secretary of State Nomination

Thanks to Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Pompeo has just moved a big step closer towards confirmation as America’s next Secretary of State.

The Kentucky senator just announced on Twitter that he will back Pompeo for Rex Tillerson‘s successor as the country’s top diplomat. This comes after Paul spent the last few weeks railing against the former CIA director because of his positions regarding the torture and the Iraq War.

In his Twitter statement, Paul says he received confirmation that Pompeo agrees with President Trump that the war in Iraq was a mistake. With that, Paul says he’s prepared to vote yes for Pompeo.

I just finished speaking to @realDonaldTrump, after speaking to him several times today. I also met with and spoke to Director Pompeo.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 23, 2018

After calling continuously for weeks for Director Pompeo to support President Trump’s belief that the Iraq war was a mistake, and that it is time to leave Afghanistan, today I received confirmation the Director Pompeo agrees with @realDonaldTrump

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 23, 2018

President Trump believes that Iraq was a mistake, that regime change has destabilized the region, and that we must end our involvement with Afghanistan.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 23, 2018

Having received assurances from President Trump and Director Pompeo that he agrees with the President on these important issues, I have decided to support his nomination to be our next Secretary of State.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 23, 2018

When Paul was still opposed to Pompeo last week, Trump dismissed any concern that the senator might vote against his pick.

“I will say this about Rand Paul: He’s never let me down,” Trump said at the time. “Rand Paul is a very special guy, as far as I’m concerned. He’s never let me down, and I don’t think he’ll let us down again.”

Paul’s approval means that Pompeo will have a high chance of clearing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when they vote on his nomination today.

UPDATE – 6:21 p.m. EST: And there we have it:

Sen. Rand Paul: "I have changed my mind," will support Mike Pompeo nomination.

"I take him at his word that he does and has incorporated the idea that the Iraq War was a mistake." https://t.co/NkJuIoh4fP pic.twitter.com/tfBcqlrnpr

— ABC News (@ABC) April 23, 2018

[Image via screengrab]

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