WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters with a grin on Tuesday that the “transition” to a second Trump term would be “smooth,” but later said the State Department would be prepared no matter who is president on Inauguration Day.
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Pompeo, one of Trump’s most loyal Cabinet members, also dismissed as “ridiculous” the suggestion that Trump’s claims of fraud could hurt America’s credibility when weighing in on foreign elections.
Pompeo’s comments about the transition came in response to a question about whether the State Department was prepared to engage with the Biden team.
“There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration,” Pompeo said with a chuckle, before shifting to a more serious tone. “We’re ready. The world is watching what’s taking place here. We’re going to count all the votes. When the process is complete, there will electors selected. There’s a process, the Constitution lays it out pretty clearly.”
“The world should have every confidence that the transition necessary to make sure that the State Department is functional today, successful today, and successful with the president who’s in office on January 20th a minute after noon will also be successful,” he said.
“There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration,” Sec. Pompeo asserts when asked if the State Dept. is currently preparing to engage with President-elect Biden's transition team. pic.twitter.com/qxd8lJvs9q
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 10, 2020
Later, in an interview with conservative radio host Tony Perkins, Pompeo appeared to seek to clarify his comments.
“Our adversaries should know that we’re ready, we’re continuing to work, we’ll work all the way through January. And then on January 20th, we’ll have a transition, whether it’s to a Trump administration — a second Trump administration as I spoke about today — or to an administration led by former Vice President Biden,” he said.
“The American people understand that our transition will be complete and thorough and that if we spend a few more days validating that we have this process right, ensuring that we’ve protected every American’s lawful right to vote, it’s the right thing to do and we need not worry that there won’t be an adequate time for transition, which was frankly what the question was suggesting,” he added.
Biden later shrugged off Pompeo’s remarks, saying, “There is no evidence of any of the assertions made by the president or Secretary of State Pompeo.”
At least some Democratic members of Congress were not amused, however.
Eliot Engel, the outgoing chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement that Pompeo “shouldn’t play along with baseless and dangerous attacks on the legitimacy of last week’s election.”
“The State Department should now begin preparing for President-elect Biden’s transition,” said Engel, who has been a persistent critic of Pompeo’s.
Pompeo will leave on Friday for a diplomatic trip to Europe and the Middle East, including France, Turkey, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, where he will meet leaders who have already congratulated Biden on his victory.
In rejecting suggestions that Trump’s allegations of fraud would have an impact on U.S. standing when it comes to commenting on elections in other countries, he said:
“I’m the secretary of state. I’m getting calls from all across the world. These people are watching our election. They understand that we have a legal process. They understand that this takes time.”
“We’re in good shape. We’re in good shape,” Pompeo said.
He derided a question from one reporter about how Trump’s rejection of the election results would play overseas. In recent weeks, Pompeo and the State Department have expressed concerns about irregularities in elections from Belarus to Ivory Coast and Tanzania.
“That’s ridiculous and you know it’s ridiculous, and you asked it because it’s ridiculous,” Pompeo told the reporter who asked if Trump’s stance jeopardized U.S. standing. “You asked a question that is ridiculous. This department cares deeply to make sure that elections around the world are safe and secure and free and fair, and my officers risk their lives to ensure that that happens.”
What a silly thing to say.
Trust in Almighty G-D. Pray hard.
He will unveil wonders soon.
The biggest heist in America’s history about to implode.
under mike pompeo the most antisemitic government agency, the foggy bottom, has become an advocate for the state of israel and a diplomatic force to be reckoned with.
with mike pompeo the state dept got its MAGA moment
How could they ask if there will be a smooth transition? Already the transition is not smooth.
You have to love Pompeo in the way he socked it to them smooth as silk.
Treasonous moron. The world watches and this clown makes ridiculous and dangerous comments. They’re going to need a Nuremberg style trial for the Trump Regime. But, I’m sure most here will keep their heads in the sand or, the Talmud, and not see the danger Trump is causing.
Sedition: “…Article 139 of the Revised Penal Code states that sedition is committed by those rising “publicly and tumultuously” to prevent, in a forceful, intimidating or illegal way, the execution of a law, administrative order, or a popular election; to obstruct the government or any public officer from freely performing his functions…”