Pompeo brushes aside results of presidential election

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is brushing aside results of last week’s presidential election showing that President Donald Trump lost his bid for a second term. Pompeo told reporters with a grin on Tuesday that “transition” to a second Trump term would be “smooth,” but later said State Department would be prepared matter who is president on Inauguration Day.

Tongue-in-cheek or t, Pompeo's remarks implying that Trump might yet be reelected were striking, coming at a tense moment for nation as Trump refuses to concede to President-elect Joe Biden. Pompeo, America's top diplomat and fourth-in-line for presidency, spoke even as world leers have been congratulating former vice president.

Pompeo, one of Trump’s most loyal Cabinet members, also dismissed as “ridiculous” suggestion that Trump’s evidence-free claims of fraud could hurt America’s credibility when weighing in on foreign elections.

Pompeo's comments about transition came in response to a question about wher State Department was prepared to eng with Biden team.

“re will be a smooth transition to a second Trump ministration,” Pompeo said with a chuckle, before shifting to a more serious tone. “We’re rey. world is watching what’s taking place here. We’re going to count all votes. When process is complete, re will electors selected. re’s a process, Constitution lays it out pretty clearly.”

“ world should have every confidence that transition necessary to make sure that State Department is functional today, successful today, and successful with president who’s in office on January 20th a minute after on will also be successful," he said.

In refusing to recognize Biden's victory, Pompeo, a possible 2024 presidential contender, is joining with or leing Republicans who have rallied behind Trump's efforts to fight election results. That has cast doubt on wher re will be a smooth transition leing up to Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration.

Biden later shrugged off Pompeo’s remarks, saying, “re is evidence of any of assertions me by president or Secretary of State Pompeo.”

Pompeo will leave on Friday for a diplomatic trip to Europe and Middle East, including France, Turkey, Israel and United Arab Emirates, where he will meet leers who have alrey congratulated Biden on his victory.

In rejecting suggestions that Trump's unsupported allegations of fraud would have an impact on U.S. standing when it comes to commenting on elections in or countries, he said:

“I’m secretary of state. I’m getting calls from all across world. se people are watching our election. y understand that we have a legal process. y understand that this takes time."

"We’re in good shape. We’re in good shape,” Pompeo said.

He derided a question from one reporter about how Trump's rejection of election results would play overseas. In recent weeks, Pompeo and State Department have expressed concerns about irregularities in elections from Belarus to Ivory Coast and Tanzania.

“That’s ridiculous and you kw it’s ridiculous, and you asked it because it’s ridiculous,” Pompeo told reporter who asked if Trump's stance jeopardized U.S. standing. “You asked a question that is ridiculous. This department cares deeply to make sure that elections around world are safe and secure and free and fair, and my officers risk ir lives to ensure that that happens.”