Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed President Biden’s comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, saying he was engaged in “rhetoric and name calling” rather than action.
“If you put America first and back up your language with real deeds and not just rhetoric and name calling you’re exceedingly more likely to be successful,” Pompeo said Thursday during an appearance on Fox News.
The Biden administration on Wednesday rolled out beefed-up sanctions against Russia over the country’s use of chemical weapons against dissidents and the alleged poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
“The Department of Commerce is committed to preventing Russia from accessing sensitive U.S. technologies that might be diverted to its malign chemical weapons activities,” the agency said in a statement.
Pompeo was asked during his interview with Fox about comments Biden made to ABC News, during which the president said he believes Putin is a killer.
Biden also stated that Russia will “pay a price” for directing an influence campaign targeting the 2020 election. The comment came after a report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence was released detailing Russian efforts to influence the 2020 election.
“He will pay a price,” Biden said. “We had a long talk, he and I. I know him relatively well. And the conversation started off and I said, ‘I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred, then be prepared.’ ”
Following his remarks, Russian officials demanded an apology.
“This kind of assessment is not allowed from the mouth of a statesman of such a rank. This kind of statement is not acceptable under any circumstances,” said Konstantin Kosachyov, the deputy chairman of the Russian parliament’s upper house.
Pompeo mentioned Putin’s involvement with the KGB and Navalny’s poisoning before saying “those facts speak for themselves” on whether he believes Putin is a killer.
The former secretary is viewed as a potential 2024 Republican hopeful.
Pompeo is expected to address a group of New Hampshire Republicans at a fundraiser later this month and has been touting Trump’s accomplishments since leaving the State Department.
Former President Trump and his administration came under criticism from Democrats about his relationship with Putin. During his tenure, Trump held off on imposing sanctions on Russia over the alleged poisoning of Navalny.