As President-elect Joe Biden continues to assemble his administration, one thing is clear: the current administration’s top diplomats, Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo, will not be a part of it. Both Haley and Pompeo have been key figures in the Trump administration, with Haley serving as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations and Pompeo as the Secretary of State.
Haley, a former governor of South Carolina, has been a vocal supporter of President Trump throughout his time in office. She has been seen as a rising star in the Republican Party and was even rumored to be a potential presidential candidate in the future. However, Haley has distanced herself from the President in recent months, criticizing his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his rhetoric following the 2020 election. It is unclear what Haley’s next move will be, but it seems unlikely that she will be a part of the Biden administration.
Similarly, Pompeo has been a loyal supporter of President Trump and has been a key player in his foreign policy decisions. As Secretary of State, Pompeo has been at the center of many controversial decisions, including the decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and the decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Pompeo has also been criticized for his handling of the State Department, with many accusing him of politicizing the agency. Like Haley, it is unclear what Pompeo’s future holds, but it is unlikely that he will be a part of the Biden administration.
The absence of Haley and Pompeo from the Biden administration is a clear signal that the new administration is looking to move in a different direction when it comes to foreign policy. Biden has already announced his intention to rejoin the Paris climate agreement and has indicated that he will take a more multilateral approach to foreign policy. It is likely that Biden will appoint diplomats who share his vision for America’s role in the world, rather than those who have been loyal to President Trump.
Overall, the exclusion of Haley and Pompeo from the Biden administration is a sign of the changing political landscape in Washington. As Biden prepares to take office, it is clear that he is looking to distance himself from the policies and personalities of the Trump administration. It remains to be seen who will fill the roles of Ambassador to the United Nations and Secretary of State in the Biden administration, but it is clear that they will bring a different perspective to American foreign policy.