Mike Pompeo speaks to students during virtual visit

Students in a graduate class in the School of Communication and the Arts, Politics and Media, had the opportunity to interact with former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a virtual visit through Microsoft Teams Nov. 14.

Pompeo began working in politics when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Kansas’s 4th Congressional District in 2010. During that role, he served as a member of the following:  House Intelligence Committee, House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and House Select Committee on Benghazi.   

Pompeo has also served as director of the CIA and the 70th secretary of state. Pompeo is currently the distinguished chair of Liberty’s Helms School of Government, a role he’s held since October 2023.

The visit was organized by Bruce Kirk, an associate professor in Digital Media and Journalism, who worked for 33 years in the broadcast and media industry. Since the start of this semester, students in the class have also heard from FOX News Channel’s Shannon Bream, Congressman Bob Good, former Congressman Robert Hurt and former Congressman Dave Brat, who is Liberty’s senior vice president of business relations.

Pompeo’s name has floated around the media recently, as President-elect Donald Trump recently announced in a post on Truth Social that Pompeo and Nikki Haley, who served as the ambassador to the United Nations during Trump’s first presidential term, would not be joining his incoming administration. However, Trump wrote that “(he) very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country.” 

The former congressman began his visit by talking about his history, including the commercial airplane manufacturing company, Thayer Aerospace, he co-founded with some of his United States Military Academy West Point classmates. He then pivoted to discuss the current communication landscape and how it intersects with the political world.

“It is no longer the case that one can go on ABC or NBC or CBS and tell the whole world their story,” Pompeo said. “Communications tools are now much more diverse, much more fragmented.”

Pompeo predicted that the communication field will continue to grow and become more complex in future years. 

“My guess is that in 10 years from now, we will no longer recognize the existing media landscape,” Pompeo said.

He also said the media no longer promotes objective news and instead centers on biased reporting that is exploitive.

“(It) creates real danger when there is not a trusted set of media sources, which is the case today. … In the end, these are businesses and you always have to come at it from that perspective,” Pompeo said.

Students also engaged in a Q&A session with Pompeo towards the end of his visit.

One student asked how Pompeo’s media strategy changed in different positions he has held.   

“When the media calls, you have one response: ‘No comment,’” Pompeo said.

Pompeo urged students to read and watch everything they can to remain educated on current topics, instead of only consuming media that aligns with their political party or religious affiliation. He also encouraged students to be willing to share their voices in the political sphere, even when it feels uncomfortable.

“As you’re thinking about how to deliver your message, sometimes it just gets down to tools and resources; remember that you have to win the argument,” Pompeo said. “We’ve been afraid to make these arguments, and we’ve allowed the other side to dominate that space, and when you do, you don’t get the things that matter to you.” 

Students asked Pompeo about his outlook on Trump’s upcoming cabinet and whether or not he thinks he may have a place in it.

“I don’t know,” Pompeo said. “I still might, who knows. Trump has told people that they’re jerks and useless, and the next day that they’re his best friend. I’m pretty happy doing what I’m doing now for me and my family.”

Graduate student Josiah Mork appreciated how Pompeo provided the class with information that they can practically apply to what they’ve learned so far in the class.

“It was mostly just practical insight into how communication works at the highest level,” Mork said. “We talk a lot about theory and the ideal version of what media looks like in politics, but when you’re talking to the CIA director or someone who’s making decisions with the president, you’re seeing a practical lens to it in a high-stakes environment.”

Smith is the social media manager for the Liberty Champion. Follow her on X.