President Donald Trump chooses CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, and Gina Haspel instead of Pompeo as the CIA’s first female director.
In his shakeup on Tuesday, March 13, the US president indicated he wanted a new top team ahead of his summit with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-in and international trade talks. The sweeping new appointments come ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington next week and more aggressive US military moves in Syria.
Trump spoke to reporters on Tuesday of his “great chemistry” with Pompeo, whom he appointed to head the CIA 14 months ago. He said he had “got along with Tillerson” too, but they disagreed on some issues, notably the Iranian nuclear deal. DEBKAfile adds that the outgoing secretary did not support the president’s decision to accept Kim’s invitation to meet, or his move last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Gina Haspel, 62, who will be the first woman to head the Central Intelligence Agency, was appointed deputy CIA director in February 2017 shortly after Trump entered the White House. In 2002, she led the team interrogating captured al Qaeda leaders. In 2013, during the Obama term, she was named acting director of the National Clandestine Service, responsible for running US undercover operations worldwide. READ MORE
Gina Haspel, 62, who will be the first woman to head the Central Intelligence Agency, was appointed deputy CIA director in February 2017 shortly after Trump entered the White House. In 2002, she led the team interrogating captured al Qaeda leaders. In 2013, during the Obama term, she was named acting director of the National Clandestine Service, responsible for running US undercover operations worldwide. READ MORE
