Behind Trump's Ban of Mike Pompeo

"The votes aren't all counted from last week's election, but the 2028 contest for President is already underway. That's one way to read Donald Trump's weekend message that Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley won't be part of his second Administration.

"I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation," Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday. "I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country."

The announcement was hardly necessary. Presidents-elect pass over people for cabinet posts all the time without public declarations. Why rule them out in this way and so soon, in what seems like a pre-emptive attempt to embarrass them?

The slap at Ms. Haley is no doubt in part revenge for having run against Mr. Trump in the GOP primaries. She supported him in the general election and volunteered to campaign for him, but the campaign spurned her. Mr. Trump remains sore about her challenge, and with his victory isn't in a forgiving mood.

The ban against Mr. Pompeo is stranger on the surface. He served Mr. Trump as CIA director and then Secretary of State through all four years, a rare adviser with a national-security portfolio who lasted the term. Mr. Pompeo considered a run for President this year but decided against it and backed Mr. Trump.

The Pompeo ban makes more sense in light of the changing hierarchy behind the scenes in Trump world. Mr. Trump's son, Don Jr., is wielding greater influence, as is the media provocateur Tucker Carlson and their coterie. They lobbied hard to make JD Vance Mr. Trump's running mate, and they're already pulling strings to make him heir apparent. They'd like to block anyone who might challenge Mr. Vance from gaining stature by holding a cabinet position in the second Trump term.

There is also a foreign-policy calculation at work. Mr. Pompeo and Ms. Haley believe in robust U.S. leadership in the world, including support for Ukraine, NATO, and alliances in the Pacific. The Don Jr. crowd and Mr. Vance want to pull back from some of those commitments.

One online MAGA acolyte tweeted Sunday that "The 'stop Pompeo' movement is great but it's not enough. Right now we need maximum pressure to keep all neocons and warhawks out of the Trump administration." Don Jr. retweeted his assent: "Agreed 100% 100% 100%!!! I'm on it."

We told you before the election that Don Jr. was emerging as an inside power player, but we wonder if his father likes this boasting that the kid is telling Dad what to do.

It isn't clear where the President-elect will come out on all of this, and the cabinet choices he does make will tell us more. But the ban on Mr. Pompeo, who would have made a fine Defense secretary, and Arkansas defense hawk Tom Cotton's declaration that he wants to remain in the Senate aren't favorable signs for Trump foreign policy.

Expect much more of this intrigue since Mr. Trump can't run for re-election, and the maneuvering to succeed him will be intense and sometimes disruptive. Many presidential decisions will be made with a calculation that includes Don Jr. whispering in his father's ear.

Managing much of this will be new chief of staff Susie Wiles, who looks like a strong choice. She ran Mr. Trump's campaign with notable discipline, and the President-elect appears to respect her judgment. He'll need a strong independent voice as supplicants and sons compete for positions and influence -- and to make JD Vance his successor." [1]

Oh, who's crying quietly in the corner? The Seimas of Lithuania, the President and the Government. No money for Winnie the Pooh's adventures in Ukraine. After all, this was the only game that these people knew.

1. Behind Trump's Ban of Mike Pompeo. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 11 Nov 2024: A.18.