Mike Pompeo, Counterpuncher

Donald Trump says he and his pick to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, “have a very similar thought process,” but what they seem to have most in common is a code of conduct for dealing with adversaries. Trump, drawing on the lessons he learned from his former lawyer Roy Cohn, often describes himself as a “counterpuncher.” And the same could be said for Pompeo in his approach to international affairs.

“When someone punches you in the nose you can’t walk away. They may punch you in the nose again,” then-Congressman Pompeo in 2013, explaining why he wanted to maintain a modest U.S.