The US Senate has confirmed former CIA director Mike Pompeo as secretary of state, ending a tough confirmation battle.
New US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Photo: AFP
Mr Pompeo had been accused by Democrats of harbouring anti-Muslim and homophobic views.
The Senate voted 57-42 to approve him as America's top diplomat, the second of the Trump presidency.
His predecessor Rex Tillerson was sacked last month by the president via Twitter amid a personality clash.
The approval comes in time for Mr Pompeo to lead a US delegation to Nato foreign minister talks in Brussels this weekend.
He has been arranging a summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader in the coming months.
Scott Brown, the US ambassador in New Zealand, has tweeted his congratulations:
Congratulations to Mike Pompeo, our new Secretary of State, for his confirmation, swearing-in, and departing for his first official trip! I look forward to working with him to strengthen U.S.-New Zealand partnership around the world. https://t.co/I9Gp3EQibg
— Ambassador Brown (@USAmbNZ) April 26, 2018
- BBC
