Pompeo jokes he’ll be secretary of State until Trump ‘tweets me out of office’

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo quipped on Monday that he intends to stay in his role until President Trump “tweets” him out of a job.

Pompeo was asked at a speaking engagement in Kansas how he liked being secretary of State and how long he planned to stay on the job. 

“I’m going to be there until he tweets me out of office,” Pompeo said with a chuckle, eliciting laughs from others in the room.

“Which I’m not counting on, at least today,” he added.

Asked how long he plans to be in his role, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tells a crowd in Kansas, “I’m going to be there until he tweets me out of office.” https://t.co/4xmpLtAGK2 pic.twitter.com/tx0B5VF74e

— ABC News (@ABC) March 18, 2019

{mosads}Trump, a prodigious Twitter user, announced the firing of Pompeo’s predecessor, Rex Tillerson, in a tweet shortly after it was reported by The Washington Post.

Tillerson’s top deputy later said the president did not speak with the former Exxon executive to inform him of the decision ahead of time.

Tillerson’s tenure, which lasted more than a year, was marked by tensions with the president over North Korea and other subjects.

Pompeo has had a smoother relationship with Trump thus far, and on Monday called it an “enormous privilege” to work in the administration.

“He is truly a leader who provides guidance to me,” Pompeo said of Trump.

“It is oftentimes different than what we’ve done before,” he added. “I think that’s a great thing. It gives us a real opportunity to partner in different ways and build coalitions in different ways. He gives me that guidance, and then he sets me free and holds me accountable.”

Pompeo, a former congressman from Kansas, was confirmed as secretary of State in April. He has ruled out a Senate run in 2020 to replace retiring Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) but has suggested he’s open to a bid further down the line.