President TrumpDonald John TrumpJaime Harrison debates Graham behind plexiglass shield Doctors, White House staff offer conflicting messages on president’s health Trump given second dose of Remdesivir ‘without complication’, ‘not yet out of the woods’, Conley says MORE’s coronavirus diagnosis poses a critical test for Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoGOP Sen. Thom Tillis tests positive for coronavirus Pelosi tests negative for COVID-19 Barr tests negative for COVID-19 MORE and the State Department as they seek to project stability and strength to U.S. allies in final days before the presidential election.
Pompeo, who was on travel in Europe when the president announced he and first lady Melania TrumpMelania TrumpJaime Harrison debates Graham behind plexiglass shield Doctors, White House staff offer conflicting messages on president’s health Trump given second dose of Remdesivir ‘without complication’, ‘not yet out of the woods’, Conley says MORE had tested positive for COVID-19, made the decision to carry on his diplomatic trip in Croatia before returning to the U.S. as scheduled.
But a weeklong trip to Asia beginning on Sunday was postponed over the escalating concern over the president’s health. The secretary had earlier said his team are making decisions about traveling abroad on an “hour by hour basis.”
The State Department said on Saturday evening that Pompeo will travel to Tokyo, Japan from October 4 through 6, where he will meet with the foreign ministers of Australia, India, and Japan.
The group, known informally as the “quad,” is expected to discuss the challenges of a nuclear North Korea and confronting China.
But trips to Mongolia and South Korea are being rescheduled.
As fourth in line for the presidency, Pompeo will maintain a close line to Washington on the president’s condition and will be a key voice to the international community on the stability of the U.S. government.
“This is when you need that consistent message,” said Kenneth Yalowitz, who served as U.S. ambassador to Belarus and Georgia in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“In a situation like this, the White House and the State Department in all likelihood come together, and I think everyone realizes the huge importance of this situation and I can’t conceive of a jumble of messages and a bunch of confusing signs.”
But Trump and the White House have rarely projected a clear and consistent message on any issue and the questions surrounding the president’s health is raising fears that adversaries will have an opportunity to exploit the current moment.
“We were already in a period, because of the election, that the country’s attention was so focused inward,” said Dan Shapiro, who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel in the Obama administration. “Now you compound that with a president being less than fully healthy, even in some scenarios incapacitated, and you realize that the health of the president’s safety is a national security issue.”
Foreign leaders — including Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinPreventing a foreign ‘October surprise’ while the president is quarantined Is it Macron — not Trump — who’s breaking the NATO alliance? Germany calls for Russian sanctions after alleged poisoning of opposition leader MORE and a top official in China — have poured in messages wishing the president and first lady a speedy recovery.
Yet experts are warning that despite the public goodwill, the risks posed by these countries are becoming even more acute.
“With the President’s illness amid a divisive campaign, we should not discount the possibility that China will step up pressure on Taiwan or Russia seek to take advantage in Eastern Europe,” tweeted Nicholas Burns, a foreign policy adviser to the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenPost-debate poll finds Biden with leads in two key states Democrats warn Supreme Court confirmation would…