White House, Rubio want better foreign-policy coordination after Argentina snafu with Noem
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem strikes a dance pose after she and Argentine officials watched a dance team perform in Buenos Aires during her trip there last month. Photo: Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images
When Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signed a visa-waiver accord with Argentine officials last month, Marco Rubio — the national security director and secretary of state — didn't get a heads-up until after the fact, according to five sources familiar with the situation.
- Now the White House and National Security Council want to make sure there's no repeat of such a scenario.
Why it matters: All U.S. government workers must "clear the purpose and scope of any proposed call, conversation, meeting or trip with the NSC prior to engagement," according to an Aug. 8 memo written by Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles that was reviewed by Axios.
- "Any proposed agreements, directives or demands involving foreign leaders or countries must be notified, coordinated and approved through the interagency process at the White House, via the NSC," the memo said. "No commitments or statements binding the United States may be made without prior NSC approval."
The big picture: Foreign policy under President Trump is conducted in a top-down fashion at breakneck speed in multiple high-stakes situations across the globe.
- That sometimes has led to occasions in which different departments and Cabinet secretaries aren't completely on the same page. The Argentina case wasn't the only such instance, but it was the biggest one yet, the sources said.
- "This memo was not directed at any specific individual," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a written statement.
- "It was sent to the president's entire top-tier team to emphasize the importance of a coordinated and deliberate approach to advancing the President's foreign policy agenda."
The backstory: Noem traveled to Latin America last month and signed a July 28 "statement of intent" with Argentine counterparts to readmit the country to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which would eventually enable citizens of that country to travel to the U.S. for 90 days without a visa.
- Rubio, however, wasn't informed in advance and was "blindsided" and "annoyed" by the announcement, two sources who spoke with him said.
- "The policy itself isn't a problem, it was just a breach of protocol," one of the sources said. "Marco likes Kristi and he talks to her all the time. It's just that this is not a good way to conduct foreign policy if the lines of communication are like this."
- One source said the NSC was made aware of Noem's plans in Argentina, however, and speculated that it didn't reach Rubio's desk in Trump's streamlined NSC, which has scrapped slower, deliberative processes that would have avoided this situation.
- Sources in other departments say they weren't aware of any briefing on the visa waiver plan and that it didn't reach Rubio.
The intrigue: Axios was first made aware of the situation in reporting an Aug. 14 story about the unusual work status of Noem's de facto chief of staff, Corey Lewandowski.
- Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign aide, is classified as a temporary employee. The White House is tracking his work hours at DHS amid suspicions he's worked more days than allowed.
- Last month's memo didn't single out Lewandowski but was partly prompted by his activities. House Democrats also are investigating his work arrangement.
- "Corey went with Noem to Argentina and someone should've flagged this visa situation to Rubio," one official said. "It's not a big deal. But it's one of those deals that could have been a problem."
- Earlier in the administration, Rubio and Trump's special envoy to Venezuela, Ric Grenell, appeared to be at loggerheads on occasion.
What they're saying: Lewandowski declined to comment. DHS referred questions to the White House. The State Department declined to comment.
- "President Trump has delivered six peace deals, brokered a number of massive trade deals, and completely secured the border in record time because his administration is all working together to deliver on his promises," Leavitt's statement said.
