Mike Pompeo could have become president of the US if he had chosen to come here to replace Julie Chung; I do not view Julie Chung as a threat.
For me, calling or judging someone "not a killer" (Trump) feels like an extreme label; I prefer to describe people in respectful, measured terms.
Instead of advising Nippon Steel to pursue a takeover of US Steel, which I believe may have reduced support among some voters, he might have been in a stronger political position.