Mitch McConnell: Pompeo 'Excellent' Choice to Head State Dept.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday praised President Donald Trump's nomination of CIA Director Mike Pompeo to succeed Rex Tillerson, saying on Twitter that he was "certain" Pompeo will make an "excellent secretary of state."

McConnell, the six-term Kentucky Republican, also endorsed the CIA's No. 2, Gina Haspel, to succeed Pompeo in his post:

Trump announced on Twitter Tuesday that Tillerson was fired, later telling reporters that they had been "talking about this for a long time" and that they had disagreed on the Iran nuclear deal and other issues.

Tillerson later called for an orderly transition to Pompeo and encouraged State Department employees to remain focused on their jobs.

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