Mike Pompeo refuses to support Donald Trump as he drops out of the 2024 race

Mike Pompeo says, «I think Americans want people to make arguments, not just tweets.» Photo: AFP

Mike Pompeo, America's former top diplomat, declined to support Donald Trump's candidacy for president as he withdrew from the 2024 race.

The former US Secretary of State was one of Trump's most vocal defenders as president, but for months he had been suggesting he would challenge his former boss for the Republican nomination.

However, he failed to make headway in the GOP primary voter polls, with the core base remaining loyal to Mr. Well, to Trump.

Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, is the only potential candidate to score double digits in most polls.

«Now is not the right time for me and my family,» Pompeo said in a statement.

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Mr. Pompeo said Mr. Trump did not influence his decision, but he made veiled criticisms of the former president , whom he served first as director of the CIA and then as secretary of state.

“I think Americans are hungry for arguments, not just tweets,” he said. “I think they need someone who can articulate their vision clearly.”

He added: «I don't know if it will end up being President Trump, who the American people choose, or if it will be who our party chooses as their candidate.»

«But I hope that it will happen. be that debate about real arguments, things that really matter.»

Former US President Donald Trump with then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a cabinet meeting at the White House in October 2019. Photo: Getty Images North America. promotional tour for his recent memoir, Never Give An Inch: Fighting for the America I Love.

When asked who he would support in the 2024 primary, Pompeo said he was waiting to «find out who the right person is» but did not rule out supporting a Trump challenger.

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Pompeo, 59, added that he does not rule out a future bid.

Trump, meanwhile, said on Saturday that he has only solidified his grip on his party.

Republicans, were «very happy with my polls,» he said.

«Way above all Republicans and Biden.»

The 76-year-old has rallied Republicans around him as he faces criminal charges of New York over silence payments and other pending investigations, portraying himself as a victim of a Democratic conspiracy.

In a post on his social media platform on Saturday, Trump said, «The Democrats are hard at work on various forms of FRAUD.»< /p>