Intel head

Trump election: Mike Pompeo - America's likely new spymaster

The United States' likely new spymaster, Mike Pompeo, is a hardline Republican Congressman with a background in military and intelligence affairs.

Mr Pompeo was offered the job of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director even though he backed US President-elect Donald Trump's rival, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, in the party's presidential primary race.

He switched his allegiance once Mr Trump began to look unstoppable, though after a 2005 tape emerged of the businessman boasting of groping women, Mr Pompeo called the comments "horrible, offensive and indefensible".

The 52-year-old is close to Mr Trump's running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, and helped prepare him for his televised vice-presidential debate.

Mr Pompeo said in a statement he was "honoured and humbled" to accept the nomination, but that it was a "difficult decision".