Mike Pompeo was the bull in the diplomatic china shop as US secretary of state set loose by a president, Donald Trump, who was prepared to break glass.
I was blessed in that way, very much, Pompeo told The Post. It was the single biggest challenge of my life, for sure, he said of his three years as Americas top diplomat. Look, I was a soldier. My demeanor might be more Department of Defense than Department of State, thats probably fair. But it was always in the context of trying to obtain the objective that the American people needed.
Pompeo a self-described grinder who was first in his class at West Point wasasurprise pick asTrumps firstCIA director.Months later,Trump booted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and nominated Pompeo in his place.
Leading our intelligence warriors was the finest experience of my life, he writes in his memoir Never Give An Inch: Fighting For the America I Love (Broadside Books), out Tuesday. Leading the State Department was, well, fascinating. Here are some of his observations on the world’s leaders and Dennis Rodman. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s memoir is out Tuesday. Kamala Harris and the Democrats
In 2017, Pompeo writes, the CIA developed a still-secret plan to counter Irans interference in the Iraqi national elections. But first, he had to brief a congressional oversight committee.
Well, Iran wont like that! fretted Harris, then a US senator from California.
No way, you cannot do this, complained Rep. Adam Schiff. Kamala Harris, Pompeo writes, was worried about Iran’s reaction to secret US plans to counter interference in the Iraqi elections.AFP via Getty Images
Most galling, Pompeo writes, was Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who asked, How do you explain this to the New York Times?
Were f–king America, Pompeo exploded at the faint-hearted Dems. I wouldnt explain it to the New York Times because they simply could not understand that we are the good guys.
They just had a fundamental misunderstanding of America as a force for good in the world.” Vladimir Putin
Russias ruler can be funny and mirthful, even while being evil, Pompeo writes. As the former director of the FSB, He knew all about me, where I grew up, my background, Pompeo said. So hed make jokes Oh thats right, youre from that lefty little place in southern California, things like that.
“He was always testing, probing, but he had a good sense of humor, Pompeo recalled of Putin. And he could give and take; Id studied him too. So the conversations were fraught and difficult, but there were absolutely lighter moments. Pompeo says Vladimir Putin has a good sense of humor.Getty Images
Pompeos CIA saved hundreds of lives in 2017, when it alerted Russia to an imminent ISIS attack on Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Putin called Pompeo directly to thank him, saying, Tank Man saved our ass.
The nickname was a little bit about my background as a US Army cavalry lieutenant, Pompeo said, and a little bit about my demeanor: straight ahead and always on offense.
I actually like that moniker, even if it came from an unreconstructed KGB officer. Kim Jong Un After Kim Jong Un was upset about Donald Trump calling him “Little Rocket Man,” Trump tried to soft-pedal by telling him how great Elton John’s song “Rocket Man” is.AFP via Getty Images
Pompeo met frequently with the “small, sweating, evil” dictator of North Korea. He credits Kim with brains, savvy, and ruthlessness” but also writes how the tiny tyrant could display flashes of humor.
During their 2018 summit in Singapore, Trump tried to make light of the infamous Little Rocket Man insult he had lobbed at Kim the previous year.
Trump said [Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’] was a great song, and he intended the reference as a compliment, Pompeo writes.
Rocket Man, okay, Kim responded through a translator. Little, not okay. Rocket Man, okay, Kim responded through a translator. Little, not okay.AP
We all laughed, Pompeo writes.
Trump, master of the Twitter taunt, used this language with actually great effect, Pompeo said. Im not claiming with intention. But I could see Chairman Kim understood: these guys are different and maybe we can find some way to take down the risk. We were definitely breaking some glass on this one. Xi Jinping
The dour president of China is not so much serious as dead-eyed, Pompeo writes. Of the dozens of world leaders I met, he was among the most unpleasant.”
The distaste went both ways. In March 2020, when Pompeo publicly blamed the Chinese Communist Party for the COVID pandemic sweeping the world, Xi called Trump to get Pompeo fired.
My Mike, that f–king guy hates you! Trump exclaimed. Trump told Pompeo that Xi Jinping “f–king hates you.”Getty Images
Weeks later, Pompeo got sly revenge by posting what he insists was a completely innocent photo of his dog cuddling a well-chewed Winnie-the-Pooh toy but it was widely seen as a dig against the Chinese leader, who uncannily resembles the cartoon bear.
It was nothing, a little bit of fun, but the Chinese propaganda organs still write about that to this day, Pompeo said. And yeah, they do kind of look alike. Dennis Rodman
The NBA oddball is, in Pompeo’s opinion, a true intelligence asset when it comes to North Korea.
Rodman provided us with the most detailed knowledge of Chairman Kim we had in our collection, including many insights about Kims personality, Pompeo writes.
Kim, a massive fan of American sports, venerated Rodman, who first visited him in 2013. Trump knew the basketball bad boy from The Apprentice. Dennis Rodman is said to do an impression of his pal Kim Jong Un.Kyodo News Stills via Getty Images
Oh, you should call him! Trump told his then-CIA director adding, Make sure to call him before noon! Hes usually drunk or stoned after that.
One day, Pompeo promises, I am going to publicly do an imitation of President Trump doing an imitation of Dennis Rodman doing an imitation of Chairman Kim. Yes, that really happened. Emmanuel Macron
The President of France wrongly believed himself to be the ‘Trump whisperer.’
Macron, desperate to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, badgered the US president in 2019 to meet face-to-face with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Finally, an infuriated Trump exploded at him over the phone. Trump once told Emmanuel Macron that he was “like a weak little girl.”AFP via Getty Images
Stop! Stop calling me, Trump shouted. Stop calling them and begging you look like a weak little girl!
He twisted the knife with a nod to the populist Yellow Vest protesters then bedeviling Macrons rule. Run your country, Trump advised scornfully, or the yellow jackets will.”
France gave up on its mediation effort, Pompeo writes.