麻豆传媒 (PBA) hosted a discourse听on听February听26, 2026,听in the DeSantis Family Chapel听between former听U.S.听Secretaries of State Mike Pompeo and John Kerry.听听听
Education听from Experts听
听The event launched PBA鈥檚 LeMieux Center for Public Policy 2026 Speaker Series. Each year,听the听Center brings world leaders and economic figures to the听University听to promote reasoned, thoughtful, and civil discourse on issues facing Florida, the nation, and the globe. Former U.S.听Sen. George LeMieux founded the听Center听in 2012 and听moderates听events to provide students听and the community听with the opportunity to hear from and question experts on bipartisan issues.听听
鈥淚t鈥檚听always been a dream of mine to have a former secretary of state address our community to share what听really only听the chief diplomat of the United States of America can,鈥� LeMieux said.听
America鈥檚 Chief Diplomat: The Pressure of the Job听听
Kerry was the 68th U.S.听secretary of state from 2013听to 2017 under President Barack Obama and served as听U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate听under President Joe Biden from 2021听to 2024. Before joining the executive branch,听he served as a U.S. senator.听He听is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024.听听
Kerry viewed his time as secretary as an incredible honor. He听stated听some of the most important concerns during his time as secretary were the ones that received the least public attention. He cited the Obama administration’s international efforts to coordinate a way to treat and stop the spread of Ebola. He also highlighted the administration’s effort to combat听a听terrorist organization, the Islamic State Group (ISIS),听and how those efforts听aided later administrations in weakening the group.听
Pompeo served as the 70th U.S. secretary of state from 2018听to 2021 under President Donald Trump and听director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2017听to 2018. He is a former听congressman听for Kansas and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West听Point, and听served as a U.S. cavalry officer.听听
Pompeo defines the job of being secretary of state as being rewarding, but difficult. While he doesn鈥檛 know what history will look back on as his greatest accomplishment as secretary of state, he is proud of his part in confronting the growing challenge of the Chinese Communist Party and in delivering the Abraham Accords, which were a series of U.S.-brokered agreements aiming for more diplomatic relations in the Middle East.听听
鈥淵ou get to fly around on this beautiful white and blue airplane around the听world,听and everyone wants to see you,鈥� Pompeo said. 鈥淣ot because you’re Mike, but because you’re the听secretary of听state for the greatest nation in the world.鈥�听
Different Approaches for America听
Pompeo and Kerry discussed their different theoretical frameworks听for dealing with international issues concerning Iran, China, Russia,听and Latin America.听听
An example of these differences is their conflicting views when analyzing the听nation鈥檚听current tensions with Iran. While Kerry finds the Iranian regime to be one of the harshest and听most听despicable governments, he believes their government may be ready to make a deal forgoing nuclear weapons. He fears if the Trump administration is too aggressive it might be a long time before both parties are able to come back to the negotiation table.听
鈥淭oday the foreign minister put out a public tweet to the听effect,听they will never have a nuclear weapon,鈥� Kerry said. 鈥淣ow they need to negotiate that, prove that, and give us the certainty we need.鈥�听
On the other side of this issue, Pompeo said he does not care what the foreign minister of Iran promises, because he believes the regime is untrustworthy.听While serving听as secretary of state,听Pompeo recommended increasing pressure on Iran,听and he believes the same approach may be necessary to reduce the risk to the U.S. He referenced LeMieux鈥檚听initial听question of听whether听the U.S would go to war by saying America is already at war with the regime,听regardless of official military action.听听
Facing the Future with Optimism听
Kerry is optimistic about America鈥檚 future with renewable energy. He is a firm believer听that听science will continue to expand the country鈥檚 power and influence around the global marketplace. Kerry believes America has already improved many lives through its entrepreneurial听spirit,听and听the progress听will continue. He is听hopeful听the U.S can improve health and security around the world.听听
鈥淚鈥檓 optimistic because we are the United States,鈥� Kerry said.听鈥淚’m optimistic because I know what we can do.鈥�听
Pompeo said Washington, D.C., may continue to be a bipartisan battle. While Pompeo is less optimistic about the federal government coming together, he believes America will continue to be great because of the giving and communal spirit in local areas. He described what makes America great听as听a company donating $500 for a听Little League team鈥檚 uniform听or a person cooking chili dinner for their church or synagogue.听听
鈥淢ost of the good things don鈥檛 happen in听Washington,听D.C.,鈥� Pompeo noted. 鈥淭hey happen in places like this听University. They happen in communities like this one.鈥�听
Learn more about PBA鈥檚 LeMieux Center for Public Policy at听/academics/schools/centers-of-excellence/lemieux/.听
