Never Give an Inch summary

As Secretary of State, Pompeo had a mission – to keep his country safe. And that meant putting America first.

As you may remember, this was President Trump’s mantra while campaigning – “America First.” 

It’s a phrase that Pompeo never tires of hearing. 

He’s always believed that America is the greatest nation in the world – a country where anybody can rise to the top through hard work, regardless of their background.

Pompeo was one of these grinders. He graduated first in his class at West Point Military Academy, and got a degree from Harvard Law School. Later, he became Director of the CIA, and in 2018, Secretary of State under President Trump.

Pompeo admired Trump’s patriotism, and his bold assertion of American sovereignty in foreign policy. 

At last, there was a president who put America first. 

Sometimes that required cracking down on illegal immigration. On other occasions, it involved getting out of harmful international deals. For instance, the Paris Agreement would have damaged the US economy. So Trump did what was best for his country.

Pompeo took a similar approach in his own decision-making. But inevitably, putting America first sometimes means taking risks. The world is a dangerous place.

In his diplomatic career, Pompeo has handled some uniquely challenging situations, such as trying to achieve the total denuclearization of North Korea. 

He’s also risked his personal safety, making enemies in Russia, China, and Iran. When he goes to the supermarket, he has to be accompanied by his security team.

Nonetheless, Pompeo has no regrets. Facing danger is part of the job. And besides, he’s a risk-taker by nature. 

When he was assembling his team at the CIA, and later in the State Department, Pompeo looked for people like him, who were willing to embrace risk.

He also wanted “pipehitters” in his team. A pipehitter is someone who’s focused on winning and excellence, and who doesn’t avoid necessary fights. When you’re responsible for protecting more than 330 million Americans, you have to be a pipehitter.

When it comes to the things that really matter – like fighting for the country he loves – Pompeo never gives an inch.