Tom Cotton: Mike Pompeo’s North Korea Trip Proves He’s a Qualified Secretary of State Nominee

Sen. Tom Cotton blasted some of his Democrat colleagues for their stated opposition to confirming Mike Pompeo as secretary of state.

The senator praised Pompeo’s successful trip to North Korea during Easter weekend, which the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

During a call with White House reporters, Cotton ridiculed Senate Democrats for suggesting Pompeo was “too bellicose” and not committed to diplomacy.

“There’s not many worse regimes than North Korea on the face of this earth, and to sit down with this leader and try to find a peaceful solution to the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula, just shows that he is committed to diplomacy,” he said.

Cotton also lightly criticized Sen. Rand Paul for his opposition to Pompeo’s nomination despite support from President Trump.

“Sen. Paul has unusual foreign policy views that are not representative of the Republican Senate Caucus,” he said.

Counselor to the president, Kellyanne Conway, said Pompeo was already a trusted adviser to the president for a number of international issues, which is why he had the confidence of the White House.

Cotton pointed out that Pompeo was already “invested” in the negotiations with North Korea and that it would be a bad sign for diplomacy if Democrats chose to block his nomination.

The senator would not comment when Breitbart News asked him if members of the Senate Intelligence Committee were briefed about Pompeo’s trip.

Cotton signaled confidence that Pompeo would pass Senate confirmation next week, despite the Senate Intelligence Committee’s sending warning signs that it might not sign off on his nomination.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, both Democrats, have indicated they will not support Pompeo.

“I am not concerned Mike Pompeo will be confirmed as secretary of state next week,” Cotton said.