US President-elect Donald Trump has officially ruled out re-appointing two prominent figures from his first administration, Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley, to his new team. In a post on his Truth Social network on Saturday, Trump announced that neither the former secretary of state, Pompeo, nor the former UN ambassador, Haley, would be joining his administration in the upcoming term.
Trump’s decision comes amid growing speculation over the composition of his cabinet and other key roles in his new administration. Pompeo and Haley both played significant roles in Trump’s first term, but recent developments have shown a divergence in their views compared to Trump’s current political stance.
Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state under Trump, had recently outlined a more hawkish approach to Ukraine. In a July interview, Pompeo called for further weapons transfers to Ukraine and tougher sanctions on Russia’s energy sector—positions that contrast with Trump’s earlier campaign promises to end the war in Ukraine quickly and reduce American military involvement.
Trump has consistently emphasized his ability to resolve the war in Ukraine within his first 24 hours in office, criticizing the ongoing American aid to Kyiv. Pompeo’s stance, which leans more toward supporting Ukraine’s defense, has been at odds with Trump’s isolationist rhetoric on foreign policy.
Nikki Haley, who served as the US ambassador to the UN during Trump’s first term, had initially challenged Trump in the Republican primaries this year. However, she later endorsed him and has maintained a critical yet supportive role in the campaign. Despite her endorsement, Haley occasionally offered candid advice, including urging Trump to “quit whining” about his opponent Kamala Harris in August.
In his post on Truth Social, Trump expressed gratitude toward Pompeo and Haley for their past service, saying, “I very much appreciated working with them previously and would like to thank them for their service to our country.”
So far, Trump has made one significant cabinet appointment for his second term: Susie Wiles, his campaign manager, who has been named White House chief of staff. Wiles, dubbed “ice baby” by Trump due to her composed demeanor, is the first woman to be appointed to the key role of White House gatekeeper.
As the political world continues to speculate about the new team, Trump’s move to exclude Pompeo and Haley from his cabinet leaves room for further intrigue as he builds his leadership lineup for the next administration.
Sources By Agencies
