President Donald Trump on Sunday slammed reports Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would leave his cabinet in order to run for the Senate.
'He tells me he wouldn't want to leave,' Trump told CBS' 'Face the Nation' in an interview that aired on Sunday.
A Pompeo exit would be a blow to the Trump administration, which has lost several high-profile officials in the past year.
President Donald Trump said he spoke to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 'he tells me he wouldn't want to leave' his administration to run for the Senate
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is said to be Trump's favorite Cabinet member
Pompeo tweeted Sunday his love for his job but did not address whether or not he'd leave his post as America's top diplomat to run for the Senate.
'It's true @realDonaldTrump, I do love being America's most senior diplomat. I love it because I get to lead the great men and women of @StateDept who bust their tails every day to proudly deliver American values and American diplomacy to every corner of the world. #Swagger,' he wrote.
When longtime Republican Sen. Pat Roberts decided to retire, some Republican senators - including GOP Leader Mitch McConnell - tried to recruit Pompeo to return to his home state and run in 2020.
Trump initially said it was 'fake news' McConnell tried to recruit his secretary of state.
'That was fake news,' he said.
But when CBS' Margaret Brennan pointed out Pompeo 'said McConnell had spoken to him about running for the Senate,' Trump backed down.
'Well, he may have spoken to him, but I think he loves being secretary of state. He's doing a fantastic job. And I asked him the question the other day, he says he's absolutely not leaving. I don't think he'd do that. And he doesn't want to be lame duck. And he's doing a fantastic job as our secretary of state. Great energy and great - a great, smart gentleman,' he said.
Pompeo is
