December 6th – CNN reported on the 4th that U.S. State Department officials told the transition team that Pompeo was willing to meet with President-elect Biden’s new State Department team. U.S. media said that the news was somewhat surprising, because Pompeo had not yet publicly admitted Biden’s victory.
U.S. media said it was not clear whether other cabinet members of the Trump administration would meet with Biden’s transition team or express their willingness to contact. Pompeo will meet with the Biden team at the right time, but it is not clear when exactly will be met, according to people familiar with the matter.
The outgoing U.S. secretary of state reportedly has a tradition of meeting with his successor to demonstrate his sincerity and commitment to national security, but the transition work of President-elect Biden’s government team has been delayed at present when the Trump administration refuses to recognize the election results.
Brian Brato, who worked with Pompeo at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and later entered the State Department, told the New York Times that Pompeo had also sought advice from several former Secretaries of State after Pompeo was nominated as Secretary of State in 2018. Pompeo said publicly on the 4th: “You ask me what kind of advice to give to the next government. They are smart enough to always find the way.” Regarding the transition of the work of the State Council, Pompeo said it would “will make it go smoothly”.
U.S. media said that Biden’s transition team met with current State Department officials this week. When asked if Pompeo or other Trump administration cabinet officials would meet with the Biden team, the Biden transition team declined to comment.
