Mike Pompeo declines to endorse Donald Trump as he drops out of 2024 race
Mike Pompeo, America’s former top diplomat, has declined to endorse Donald Trump’s presidential bid as he opted out of the 2024 race.
The former US Secretary of State was one of Mr Trump’s most vocal defenders in office, but for months had suggested he would challenge his former boss for the Republican nomination.
However, he failed to make a dent in polls of GOP primary voters, with a core base remaining loyal to Mr Trump.
Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, is the only other prospective candidate to reach double digits in most polls.
“The time is not right for me and my family,” Mr Pompeo said in a statement.
Mr Pompeo claimed Mr Trump did not factor into his decision, but he made a veiled critique of the former president, whom he served first as CIA director and then Secretary of State.
“I think Americans are thirsting for people making arguments, not just tweets,” he said. “I think they’re looking for someone who can clearly articulate their vision.”
He added: “I don’t know if that will end up being President Trump that the American people choose or if that’s who our party will choose to be its nominee.
Mr Pompeo had fuelled speculation of a 2024 bid, travelling to the early primary states and doing a publicity tour for his recent memoir, Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love.
Asked about who he would endorse in the 2024 primary, Mr Pompeo said he was waiting to “figure out who that right person is”, but did not rule out supporting a rival to Mr Trump.
Mr Pompeo, 59, added that he had not ruled out a future bid.
Mr Trump, meanwhile, claimed on Saturday he had only strengthened his hold over his party.
Republicans, he said, were “very happy with my polls”.
“Way up on all Republicans, and Biden.”
The 76-year-old has rallied Republicans around him as he faces criminal charges in New York over hush-money payments and other pending investigations, portraying himself as a victim of a Democratic conspiracy.
In a post on his social media platform on Saturday, Mr Trump said: “The Dems are working hard on various forms of CHEATING.”
