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00:00So you have been to North Korea and you met with the leader of North Korea and on a few occasions and you've been there where the president met with them. So what type of person is he. How do you communicate in English with him and can you just summarize what your impression is of the leader of North Korea . Yes. I've spent more time with him than any American past Dennis Rodman on last trip. President Trump has sometimes tweeted things that are not favorites without some people working for him. He's never tweet anything unfavorable about you literally. It's early. My experience is that sometimes when people get close to the president they see the job up close . They say well I can do that job too. Has that occurred to you that maybe you could do the job and would you have any interest in running for president at some point in your life. I try to answer this consistently. I have never been able to predict what my next gig will be. Would you fix your tie please . People wouldn't recognize me if my tie was fixed but it just seemed to sway . All right . I don't consider myself a journalist and nobody else would consider myself a journalist. I began to take on the life of being an interviewer even though I have a day job running a private equity firm. How do you define leadership. What is it that makes somebody tick . So you became our 70 isn't the United States secretary of state in April of 2018 . You're happy with the job. Is it as much as fun as you thought it was gonna be every day . So what are the most significant foreign policy issues of concern to you. What do you think are the biggest challenges we have in our country right now in foreign policy area. You know I get asked this question about sort of rank ordering challenges . I mean that's not an original question. I mean so look it's an important question where it's about priorities and resources and how do you allocate time and how do you think about the problems that you know for me the first the first task when I came in now going to 16 17 months ago to the State Department have to. After having been the CIA director was to make sure the State Department was ready in the moment of crisis in terms of priorities. You know every morning the first thing I do is read about China. So I take time and talk about all the broad array of issues that present both real opportunity for that to states and rescue America from China . Let's talk about China for a moment. The trade negotiations are going on you're not the lead in the trade negotiations in Bob light high flyers taking the lead in that but can you make any progress in non trade issues until the trade issue is resolved . Yeah. And we've made some other places where we've gone backwards. The Chinese have frankly been very helpful on North Korea. So they have done more to enforce the U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea than ever at any time in history. They're helpful with us today in Afghanistan and the project they're to it's something folks don't spend a lot of time thinking about. So far so good . With respect to respecting our sanctions enforcement on the Islamic Republic of Iran. So there are places we can work with China. There are lots of diplomatic fronts where we have we don't share the same values but we have overlapping interests and we work on those problems. So you haven't been to North Korea and you've met with the leader of North Korea on a few occasions and you've been there where the president has met with them. So what type of person is he. Does he have a great interesting thoughts. Does he have to speak English. How do you communicate in English with him and can you just can summarize what your impression is of the leader of North Korea . Yes I've spent more time with him than any American past Dennis Rodman on the last trip . Ok so so so he. Look he's he's he's bright. He has managed he has managed to rise to the level of leadership in a difficult environment where he was a very young man when his time came from my very first interaction with him he's been very candid with me about the things that are important to him. The priority set and how the negotiations might proceed. He's now repeated that he's prepared to denuclearize it's now time to execute. And I hope that we can achieve that. Do you expect a third summit to be announced anytime soon the date and time of it. There's there's there's nothing in the works. There's nothing planned. And why did the last summit end before the lunch even occurred. Why did that kind of abruptly end there was a big bid ask spread. To put it in economic terms we'd had a number I can't go into all that that's what we had a number of conversations about a broad range of issues in the run up to that my team had worked very very hard and it just turned out that the idea that the leaders could bridge that gap in that moment turned out to not work. What do you think the U.S. position has been that we would not lift sanctions until there was a so-called denuclearization but would you be willing to consider having the North Koreans keep whatever they have a nuclear weapons now and then lift sanctions if they didn't do more than they have now. Or is that something too hypothetical too hypothetical. Okay I do want to give you the answer. All right. So look I'll say this I've talked about this publicly a couple of times. We hope that there are creative solutions to unlocking this it is a very difficult challenge for each of us. We have to remember too these aren't U.S. sanctions. These are U.N. Security Council resolutions these are global sanctions put on by every single country and so we are we are mindful that we are the steward for enforcing those. Let's go to the easier part of the world the Middle East . OK. So the Straits of Hormuz are we committed to keeping open the straits of Hormuz at any cost militarily we're going to keep them open. We're gonna build out a maritime security plan. Countries from all across the world who have a vested interest in keeping those waterways open will participate . It will take more time than we wish it would take. But I'm very confident that the world understands its importance that America is prepared to be a significant part of that but we need countries from all across the world to assist us in protecting commercial principle. It will be a success but our position I presume is that if a U.S. ship were taken by the Iranians we would presumably do something militarily. I guess I don't know . But what about if a ship is taken. That's a British ship or some other nationality. Are we not committed to recovering that ship or doing something to defend those ships. We are working . I was working with what I guess I'm now working with my third British foreign minister since I've been a secretary of state but working with the British to find the solution to both a right that injustice and second prevent it from happening again so to establish deterrence. That's the mission set recently . You gave a visa for the foreign minister of Iran to come to the United States for a U.N. event maybe that's true. Yes. Yes. So when he was in the United States or were there any indirect or direct talks with him and the State Department about anything that you can talk about. No talks. No talks. And OK. And although he spoke the American media decided to give him a megaphone to talk about things that are untrue going on in the Islamic Republic of Iran and gave him a chance to lie vociferously to the American people. I look forward to the chance to speak to the Iranian people in that same way but truthfully All right tell them honestly about what's going on inside of their own country. So far they've not taken me up on that offer. Now President Trump has imposed tough sanctions on Iran. Do you think they are going to have the effect of bringing Iran to the negotiating table or not if you step back and think about what we're doing more broadly in the Middle East with respect to Iran as the world's largest state sponsor of terror that has the capacity to continue to work towards developing a nuclear weapon system which would cause proliferation risks all throughout the Middle East. And so we are very concerned about that as well. Ah ah ah ah chosen strategy was to take a 180 degree turn from what the previous administration has done. They created opportunity for enormous wealth for the kleptocrats in Iran. And for them to underwrite Hezbollah militias in Iraq they put these in Yemen that are even as we speak preparing to continue their attacks on Saudi Arabia . We've decided go the other way. We're trying to reduce their resources to conduct terror campaigns all around the world build out their missile systems and their nuclear program. And we've been incredibly effective at that I remember David I'm sure no one in this room but many here in Washington said that American sanctions alone won't work. Well they've worked. We have taken over 95 percent of the crude oil that was being shipped by Iran all around the world we have taken it off the market. We've done so with I checked when I came in. Brent crude is at 63 34 17 18 percent lower than when we withdrew from the JCP away. So we have we have managed both to protect the economic growth that the world needs while doing our best to deny resources to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Prospect of another Iranian agreement one that's more favorable to your point of view and the president's point of view is that likely to happen this year next year or you can't predict. I don't do time. I mean timelines are a fool's errand. In my business the Iranians are now enriching uranium at a greater level than they were before . Do you worry that somebody in Israel might attack the Iranian facilities or you're not worried about that. Yes they're enriching more than they were under the agreement. They're temporary they're temporary reduction in enriched uranium has now ended. They're moving back in the wrong direction where we're urging them to think about but for us it's not about these levels set in the JCP away. All right. It's about their capacity to build out a nuclear weapons system in a time frame that matters to you and your kids and your grandkids. The previous agreement didn't remotely touch that. You were the head of the CIA at the beginning of this administration. Do you have any doubt that the Russians interfered with our last presidential election. No none. OK. So have you convened the one before that and the one before that and the one before that . And the one in 2018 in the Middle East you see any prospect for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. There's been talk of a plan. And do you see any progress being made. So there's a reason has a missile for 40 years or more in the end this will be the decision of the prime minister of Israel and the leadership in the West Bank and Gaza. I have been deeply involved in Mr. Kushner's efforts there. But is our position the United States government position that we prefer a one state solution or a two state solution. You'll see our plan shortly OK we give us a hint or no . OK. We if we prefer what the Palestinians and the Israelis agree to and what the nature of that relationship will look like . Now negotiations are underway with the Taliban in the Middle East. The US is involved in that. Do you see any progress in reducing our need to be in Afghanistan anything in the near future. Yeah real progress. I try not to do timelines but I'm optimistic. We're not just negotiating with the Taliban that's the story. The truth of the matter is we're talking to all Afghans. So we've spoken with President Ghani I spoke to him on Friday night or Friday morning speaking with the opposition those folks that are not inside the government are speaking with Taliban officials we have Ambassador Khalilzad has worked all across Afghanistan with when I was there last I met with Ngo. I met with women's groups a broad swath of Afghanistan. We want them to take their country back and we want to reduce what is for us tens of billions of dollars a year and expenditures and enormous risk to your kids and your grandkids who are fighting for America. We think there's a path to reduce violence achieve reconciliation and still make sure that the American counterterrorism effort in Afghanistan has value and the potential to reduce risk here in the States before the next presidential election in the United States . Would you expect we reduce or reduce our troops in Afghanistan . That's my directive from the president the United States. He's been unambiguous and the endless wars draw down reduce won't just be us. Those of you who have served know that the Resolute Support has countries from all across Europe and around the world. So on Russia you've met with Mr. Putin many times I assume a few times. Yes sir. And any impressions of him that you might convey. Is he. Very smart very tough. Does he understand English that you convey your thoughts to him in English or does he have an interpreter. I think I think he speaks English plenty well. OK look he's he's very clear about the things that are in Russia's interests the things they're working on. You know we had a strategic dialogue with them that we hope will build into something that handles a broad set of proliferation issues not just nuclear proliferation issues but a broad array of proliferation. So we hope China will will join that set of conversations. We think today's in today's world these agreements need to have China be part of them. And I hope that President Putin will support us. And I think he will. You were the head of the CIA at the beginning of this administration . Do you have any doubt that the Russians interfered with our last presidential election. No none. None. OK so have you convened the one before that and the one before that. And the one before that. And the one in 2018 where people forget we've had an election since 2016. I have people say oh we have to protect 20 20 Well the good people who ran in 20 18 cared a lot about us protecting not what we did so very effectively. And we'll do so again in 2012. And it's not just the last thing. I just I know this town. I know exactly what will get reported . Just so you know it ain't just Russia it's bad English. I'll try and correct it. There are there are more nations than just Russia who are attempting to undermine Western democracy. That has been true since the founders created this great nation. And so we have to be ever vigilant. There is legislation that's passed the House the now in the Senate to give more resources to keep the Russians from being able to do this again. Is the administration supportive of the legislation and which seems to be blocked right now in the Senate. Yeah I don't know the details of the legislation. I'm convinced the State Department has all the reasons resources it needs to perform its part of that function. We have what we need. We have the authorities we need. We have the money we need it's. The burden is on me to execute and have you communicated to Mr. Putin that we do not like what he's done before and he shouldn't do it again on a number of occasions. And what's his response noted. OK . That's it. That's a diplomatic term for I hear you bro so. OK . He doesn't admit anything ise. But OK so with respect to England there's a new prime minister. You met Boris Johnson before. I have. I met him when I was CIA director and I believe he was Foreign Secretary at the time. When I think does the current Trump administration support a Brexit or would you prefer that there be a remain. Or do you not take a position on that. Have confidence in the British people OK. Now the British ambassador had to resign because his cables were leaked by somebody. Do you tell your own ambassadors they should be a little bit more careful about what they say to you. Because somebody could leak what they're writing. Is that a worry. Not at all and if I did they'd ignore me. I mean right they have a duty that responsibility. Our task is for them to tell us what they're saying. Then we expect that they'll report them accurately truthfully candidly and then our mission is to make sure they don't end up in the Washington Post. My experience is that sometimes when people get close to a president they see the job up close. They say well I can do that job too. Has it occurred to you that maybe you could do the job and would you have any interest in running for president at some point in your life. I try to answer this consistently. I have never been able to predict what my next gig will be. And I suspect that that's the case with respect to this now it was effect in Mexico we have been concerned about people coming over the border. Are you confident that the Mexican government is now doing what it can to keep more people from not coming over the border. They are so they're doing enough. You think or you know it's not enough and they still have high sided 2000 everyday. That's it's unacceptable. And so they need to do more. We need to do more . Congress needs to change the rules. We have to create a deterrence right. It has to be the case that those who want to come here legally can and those who want to come by some other mechanism choose not to because they understand that they're not going to find a way. I remember this as a member of Congress people would call my office and say hey we we we live in. Pick a country around the world. They said they want to come here and get citizenship and you know . Anyway I won't tell you the joke I told but that. But the simplest way to do it go to Mexico and come on it. But what you want encourage them to do is to file the paperwork go through the lawful process become citizens were the most welcoming nation in the world we will always be. But it is not the case that we can be lawless or have our sovereignty broken through having this mass immigration than an unlawful mechanism. It's truly there's a national security risk. Speaking of south of the border Venezuela would the US ever send troops in if it was necessary to keep further violence from occurring there. You started trying to get me at the beginning now to try and at the end the president has said pretty clearly we're going to do all that it takes to make sure the Venezuelan people get democracy back and that's the that's the missions that President Trump has sometimes tweeted things that are not favorable without some people working for him. He's never tweet anything unfavorable about you literally. It's early. So what is the what is the secret of your success in your relationship with Perez. You didn't know him before he was elected did you. I did not. I met him the day I interviewed to be CIA director and who recommended him to be CIA director. I don't know for sure. I don't I don't know. You mean the CIA doesn't have the ability to figure out who recommended you we should we should think are you David you've never believed that the CIA only does foreign espionage. Okay I got you. I've never been able to convince somebody that somebody recommended you you had an interview. I don't think the vice president was likely the person who who I had known and served with as a member of Congress. And did you say I like the CIA job. But I'd like to be secretary of state or this came out as a surprise to you. It was a complete surprise to me. I was. And I was honored to serve as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. OK so some people say that you shouldn't run for the Senate from Kansas in fact Mitch McConnell I think has twisted your arm a few times to do that. Can you say definitively that you will not run with the filing date is June of 2020. You probably know. So any. I didn't but thank you for reminding me. OK. So would you consider that are you putting that off the table for a while or it's off the table as a practical matter. I'm going to serve as secretary of state every day that I get the chance to do so . Look we all serve at the president the president. You talked about that. Director Coats who I have enormous respect for believing the administration saying he served nobly. There's a time for everyone and I hope I get to do this for a while longer . My experience is that sometimes when people get close to a president they see the job up close. They say well I can do that job too. Has that occurred to you that maybe you could do the job. And would you have any interest in running for president at some point in your life. I try to answer this consistently. I have never been able to predict what my next gig will be. And I suspect that that's the case with respect to this I will say this service that I've had the chance to do I'm almost 20 years now in federal service 18 years of federal service in my time in the army and then in Congress and now in the executive branch it has been a blessing I hope I've left things a little bit better and I I do feel an obligation America has given me an awful lot. And if I thought I could do a good turn there's there's nothing I wouldn't consider doing for America. OK. Let's suppose the president is re-elected would you be willing to serve as secretary state for one two three four years of a second term or have you thought about that. I haven't thought about it yet. You know that's hard to know hard to answer those questions and the real question is would the president still want Mike Pompeo as the secretary of state. OK . So when you have decisions with the president meetings with IBEX he best with oral communications written communications . What's the process by which decisions are made. Is it through the NSC or informal. So a very robust NSC process when I brief him myself I always preferred to have documents the way I prefer to receive information. So I almost always bring something a one page summary at the very least that says Here here's the outline of what it is that I think are the priorities and how we should think about how we should frame this particular problem . And then the president does like to engage in oral exchanges . And I've found them to be elucidating for myself. I often learn things as well. He's very focused on where the money is how we use economic leverage to achieve our diplomatic ends. Now except when Henry Kissinger was both Secretary of State and Nash criticized for the same time. Generally there's been some tension between secretaries of state and Nash visors. How is your relationship with John Bolton. Yeah I mean look there's there's always tension among leaders of different organizations . We we come at these things with from a different viewpoint Ambassador Bolton has his responsibility try and make sure all the ideas are vetted and get to the president. Secretary Treasury Secretary of Energy Intelligence could each have their missions that's theirs. We have robust lively debates I agree with each of them often and disagree with most of them sometimes . So in your career you were first in your class at West Point . So how do you become first in your class at West Point that's pretty tough. I mean what happened to all the other people who were second third and fourth that they become anything and so one of them is the secretary of defense right. So he's a classmate of mine as well. I give him a hard time about our relative order of finish. Now you went to Harvard Law School . Why did you abandon the practice of law. Had a great opportunity. I was practicing law at Williams Connolly here in great partners I worked for. I unlike many I actually enjoyed my time there as older than I gone to law school a little bit later but had a chance to start a business in Kansas with three of my best friends in the whole world. And so I started a company that was a machine shop in Wichita Kansas and spent the next 50. You once told me you were negotiating with somebody on the opposite side on that deal and that person wound up to be your wife. Is that true. It's true. She she took my money twice. OK so what is the best part about being secretary of state. I love Susan by the way she was still married. It's everything is good. Yeah you had to say that. Otherwise I did . I have friends in the room who are taking their text to her right now. All right. All right. So the best part of me being secretary of state is what you get a chance to help ordinary Americans understand what we're doing and try and deliver them in our where fewer and fewer their kids have to be in armed conflict that's our mission set everyday to get American outcomes through diplomacy. And what's the worst part about being secretary of state. Haven't figured that out yet. I'm enjoying every minute of what I'm doing I truly feel that I've been given this remarkable privilege to serve and I'm trying to do my best to deliver on that every day. So thank you very much for your service and thank you very much for coming here. So thank you all very much .

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