CIA/MIKE POMPEO/NORTH KOREA/STATE/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Donald Trump hailed newly minted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as a ‘true American hero’ while alluding to a boost of energy at the State Department during a ceremony marking the agency leader’s swearing-in on Wednesday [5-2-18]. In his first remarks at the State Department since becoming president, Trump praised Pompeo’s ‘exceptional leadership’ at the Central Intelligence Agency, which he headed before being named to replace former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson…The president also referenced some ‘very, very encouraging’ actions he and Pompeo had already discussed, though he did not specify what they were. Even prior to his confirmation as secretary of state in the Senate, Pompeo took an active role in the ongoing denuclearization talks with North Korea, embarking on a then-secret trip to the country to advance plans for a meeting between its leader Kim Jong Un and Trump. White House officials have emphasized that Pompeo will continue to play a key role in discussions with North Korea as the countries inch closer toward their historic diplomatic summit.”
-Cristiano Lima, “Trump touts renewed ‘spirit’ at State Dept. under Pompeo,” Politico, May 2, 2018 11:51 am