Pompeo Could Run for President Even If Trump Makes 2024 Bid

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 25, 2022. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has no qualms about running for the 2024 presidential race even if former president Donald Trump makes his bid, he said in an interview with CBS.

When asked whether he would stay out of the race if Trump seeks a nomination, Pompeo replied, “Not because of that.” If he does intend to run for president, a decision will be announced by next spring. If Trump wins the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, Pompeo said he will vote for him. Pompeo was the Secretary of State and CIA director under the Trump administration.

“For someone like me, that’s a very serious thing. And one has to conclude that they are best suited to lead this nation forward. And if we conclude it is the right time and it’s the right thing for me to do, we'll run,” he said.

“I will make the case to the American people that I’m the right leader and that the American people get to make their decision.”

Pompeo also warned that GOP candidates who refuse the results of the upcoming November elections would be making a “mistake.” It is important that everyone has confidence in American elections, he said. “So, American leaders need to instill confidence.”

Pompeo battled for stronger security measures like mandating ID cards to make sure that elections are transparent and trustworthy.

The former secretary of state had earlier blasted the Biden administration’s decision to raid Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, warning in a tweet that executing a warrant against an ex-POTUS is “dangerous.”

“The apparent political weaponization of DOJ/FBI is shameful. AG must explain why 250 yrs of practice was upended w/ this raid,” he said.

GOP Presidential Candidates

In addition to Trump and Pompeo, other GOP members believed to be potential candidates for the 2024 presidential elections include Governor Ron DeSantis from Florida, Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas, former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, and Senator Ted Cruz from Texas.

Trump still commands massive support among Republican supporters. A Harvard-Harris poll from July asked respondents who they would vote for if a Republican presidential primary for the 2024 election were to be held at the time.

The former president came out at the top spot, with 52 percent saying they would support Trump in the 2024 primary election. DeSantis came in at the second spot, with only 19 percent of the vote. No other candidate garnered double-digit support.

Pence came in third with seven percent support, with Haley getting five percent support to secure the fourth spot.

Trump is yet to formally announce his 2024 presidential bid. In an interview with CBS, Trump’s 2016 campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said she expects the former president to announce his decision after the November midterms, by Thanksgiving.