Latest news with #MikePompeo
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pompeo warns against US recognizing Russian control over Crimea: ‘Mistake of epic proportions'
ODESA, Ukraine — In the range of Russian rockets from Ukraine's occupied Crimean Peninsula, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stood in Odesa and called for President Trump to reject recognizing Russian sovereignty over territory it seized by force. Pompeo, who served as secretary of state during Trump's first term, said if the U.S. recognized Crimea as Russian territory, it 'would be a mistake of epic proportions,' speaking at the Black Sea Security Forum Saturday. 'I get the frustration … I'm not naive about what's physically possible in this moment, but that doesn't mean one should go and say, 'and we are giving up for all time,'' he said. 'This is one of the things I hope to communicate,' Pompeo added. The former secretary's remarks comes as the Trump administration has weighed giving de jure recognition to Russia over territory it occupies in Ukraine as part of efforts to coax Moscow towards a ceasefire and peace deal with Kyiv. There's growing acceptance in Ukraine that it needs to enter into a ceasefire with Russia without liberating its territory, but Kyiv is pushing for its allies to hold back recognizing occupied lands as sovereign Russian territory. Russia occupies about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory since launching a full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. But it has maintained an occupation of the Crimean Peninsula since invading and illegally annexing it in 2014, along with the eastern Ukrainian provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk. In 2018, Pompeo — during Trump's first term — issued the Crimea Declaration 'reaffirming U.S. policy its refusal to recognize the Kremlin's claims of sovereignty over territory seized by force in contravention of international law.' While Trump has disavowed Pompeo as a member of his inner circle, the former secretary and CIA director told The Hill he is articulating to Republican allies on Capitol Hill why maintaining the Crimea Declaration is important and 'the right thing to do.' He mentioned Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally and Ukraine supporter, as one of those allies and said he saw him in Ukraine. Graham was in Kyiv with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) this week. 'There are many in my party, the Republican party, that have disappointed me deeply and have said things that are inconsistent with what I think are the deep American interests that we have here,' Pompeo said during a fireside chat during the conference. 'But I think they all also know, that, in the end, there's no walking away from this for the United States,' he added. Trump has routinely favored Russian President Vladimir Putin and exercised pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in efforts to bring the two sides together. But the U.S. president has also expressed frustration with Putin, calling the Russian leader 'crazy' after the Kremlin launched its largest aerial bombardment against Ukraine between May 24 and 25. In Odesa, Russian strikes against the city on May 23 — launched from Crimea — killed two people and injured seven others. In a post on his social media site Truth Social earlier this week, Trump threatened Putin that he was 'playing with fire' with his ongoing attacks against Ukraine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Canada should still trust U.S., Trump's former secretary of state tells defence convention
Social Sharing Former U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo delivered a reassuring, fence-mending message on Wednesday, saying Canadians ought to trust the United States and shouldn't feel as though their sovereignty is under threat. He told an international gathering of defence contractors in Ottawa that he's confident relations between the two countries remain strong and that they will endure beyond the current tensions, which are fuelled by President Donald Trump's talk of annexation and the ongoing trade war. When asked if Canadians should feel threatened by the rhetoric, Pompeo, who served in Trump's first administration, said: "No." He added that he's confident the Canadian government will do all that's necessary to ensure the country's continued sovereignty. "The answer is that Canadians ought to trust the United States in the same way Americans ought to trust [Canadians] to be able to survive. I'm convinced, in the sweep of history, that will remain," said Pompeo. His soothing tone stands in contrast to his former boss, who has repeatedly spoken about how he'd like to see Canada become the "cherished 51st state" in the American union — a notion that has awakened a sense of Canadian patriotism which was on full display Wednesday at the annual defence trade show. "We were complacent, but we've woken up," said Christyn Cianfarani, president of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries in her opening address of the event organized by her association. "We recognized that the defence of North America is a shared responsibility. But make no mistake, Canada will govern itself." Pompeo spoke to reporters following his lunchtime remarks at the CANSEC defence industry convention, which featured — as usual — a number of large U.S.-based defence contractors. Prime Minister Mark Carney has made it clear that Canada intends to invest more in defence, and that he sees an overreliance on American weapons and munitions makers. He said the federal government is hoping to join the European Union's $1.25-trillion rearmament plan — pivoting Canada away from U.S. contractors. Pompeo said Carney is simply standing up for his country. "That's his job, and that's what the people hired him to do," Pompeo said. "He should make good decisions." One of the counterarguments to Canada buying its sophisticated military equipment elsewhere is that the United States is a world leader in technology and industrial innovation — something Pompeo said the prime minister should take into account. "American human capital, American business, it is a very attractive proposition for Canadian defence," he said. On Tuesday, Trump took to social media to say that Canada has been told that joining his administration's so-called Golden Dome missile defence plan would cost the country about $61 billion US, but the cost would be "zero" if the country chose to join the United States. Trump wrote that Canada was considering it — a claim the Prime Minister's Office flatly denied. WATCH | Carney's says Trump's post is 'not an offer': 'It's not an offer,' Carney says about Trump's Golden Dome post 6 hours ago Duration 0:18 Heading into his first question period Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney was asked by a reporter if he was considering an 'offer' by the U.S. president for Canada to spend $61 billion US on a new missile defence system. Carney said 'it's not an offer' as he walked past. Carney, on Wednesday, said he wasn't going to negotiate in public and Defence Minister David McGuinty said Ottawa will continue "to do what's right for Canadians and that includes making sure that we are secure, that we are sovereign." Pompeo said he wasn't in a position to evaluate whether the $61-billion figure was accurate. But conducting missile defence over territory as vast as North America would be expensive, he said. "It's an engineering problem. It is a physics problem, a technical problem and it is a deeply expensive challenge as well. But I think that that is one that is worth the investment," the former secretary of state said. "So, my guess is that the $61 billion number is low."
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Trump's former secretary of state says Canadian sovereignty not under threat
Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State, takes questions at a media availability following his off-the-record keynote address at the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries annual defence industry trade show, CANSEC, in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang U.S. President Donald Trump's former secretary of state says Canada doesn't have to worry about its sovereignty being threatened by the United States. Mike Pompeo says he's certain Canada will do everything necessary to protect its independence. Trump has launched tariff barrages that threaten the Canadian economy, has called repeatedly for Canada to become a U.S. state and is now urging the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney to join a planned multi-billion-dollar space-based missile defence project. Pompeo made the remarks at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa this afternoon during a public press conference, after addressing defence contractors in private. He spoke just a day after King Charles delivered a speech from the throne in Parliament that emphasized Canada's status as a sovereign nation and said the 'true North is strong and free.' Prime Minister Carney told Trump when the two met in the Oval Office that Canada will never allow itself to be absorbed by the U.S. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025 Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Don Jr says calling to run for president ‘is there'
Donald Trump Jr has emerged as a political force in his own right. (AFP pic) DOHA : US President Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, said today that he could maybe run for president one day, adding 'that calling is there'. During an appearance on a panel in Qatar, the 47-year-old was asked by a moderator if he would run and 'pick up the reins' after his father leaves office. 'So, the answer is, I don't know, maybe one day. You know, that calling is there. I'll always be very active in terms of being a vocal proponent of these things,' he said, referring to the ideals of the 'Make America Great Again' movement his father has built. Donald Trump Jr has emerged as a political force in his own right. Reuters reported in November that he was the most influential Trump family member in the transition as his father built the most controversial cabinet in modern US history. Trump, who fiercely prizes loyalty, has long relied on family members for political advice, but which relative has his ear is known to vary. Don Jr, as the president's eldest son is known, helped cabinet contenders sink or rise to the fore – from championing now-vice president JD Vance as Trump's running mate to blocking former secretary of state Mike Pompeo from joining the cabinet, sources have said. 'I think my father has truly changed the Republican Party, I think it's the America First party now, the MAGA party, however you want to look at it,' Don Jr said, speaking at the Qatar economic forum in Doha today. 'For the first time ever, the Republican Party actually has a bench of America First fighters,' he added. Speaking alongside 1789 Capital founder Omeed Malik, Trump's initial reaction to the question was 'Here we go. Well… oh boy,' to faint applause from the audience as he added, 'it's an honour to be asked and an honour to see that some people are okay with it.' He joked that the people clapping were 'the couple of people we know'. Don Jr is a partner in 1789 Capital. He said that the Trump Organization, where he is executive vice president, was not doing business with government entities. The Trump family has forged multi-billion dollar business deals in the Gulf, moves that Democrats and other critics say could open pathways to improperly influence the president. The US president's visit to Arab Gulf states Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates last week focused on securing major business deals from the oil-rich countries, but the president said there was no talk of building a Trump Tower in Syria or golf during his meetings in Saudi Arabia. He also said he did not know how the deal for a firm backed by the Abu Dhabi government to use the Trump family company's digital coins for a US$2 billion investment in a crypto exchange came about.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judges Consider Managing Their Own Security Force Due to Rising Threats
Federal judges, worried that the president could withdraw the U.S. marshals protecting them in retaliation for ruling against his administration, are considering managing their own security force as threats to the judiciary are rising. The Wall Street Journal reports that judges discussed the idea of creating their own security detail behind closed doors at the semiannual meeting of the Judicial Conference, national policymaking body for the federal courts, in early March. Security committee members described increased threats in the wake of Trump's attacks. The judiciary's fears of Trump's reprisal are not unfounded. The president has withdrawn security protection in the past from those he perceives as his enemies, including his former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and former national security advisor John Bolton. Trump also recently ended Secret Service protection for former president Joe Biden's adult children. Democrats in Congress share the judges' concern. Led by Sen. Cory Booker, they introduced a bill last week that would transfer control of the U.S. Marshals from the executive to the judicial branch, allowing the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Judicial Conference to appoint a director. 'President Trump has made it abundantly clear through his words and actions that he does not respect the law, court orders, the safety of our judges, or our institutions,' Booker said in a statement. 'Congress must act to move the bureau into the judicial branch. Our U.S. Marshals are critical to protecting the rule of law, and they must be able to do their jobs without political interference.' According to a Reuters investigation, at least 11 federal judges' families have dealt with threats of violence or harassment following rulings against the Trump administration. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth has received several death threats to his house. Someone sent a SWAT team to the home of U.S. District Judge Judge John Coughenour after he overturned one of Trump's executive orders, the Journal reported. An email to Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett's sister claimed a pipe bomb was in her mailbox, although that message turned out to be a hoax. Police said that other households related to Barrett have received attempted pizza deliveries. Many judges and their families have experienced harassment in the form of pizza deliveries to their homes, which they interpret as a message that their detractors know where they live. According to a Reuters investigation, at least 11 federal judges' families have dealt with threats of violence or harassment following rulings against the Trump administration. Threats to judges and their families 'are ultimately threats to constitutional government. It's as simple as that,' U.S. Circuit Judge Richard Sullivan told Reuters. Top figures on the far right — including the president, Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Republican lawmakers — have openly attacked judges and their families when judges have issued rulings against the administration. The Trump administration has even targeted a judge directly, arresting Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan under the accusation she allegedly helped an undocumented immigrant evade arrest. Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested that Dugan is 'deranged' and believes herself to be 'above the law.' A Justice Department official said that federal marshals 'will continue to protect the safety and security of federal judges.' 'Any suggestion to the contrary is not only absurd but wrong,' the official said in a statement to the Journal from the White House. Despite rising threats, funding and staffing for the U.S. Marshals has remained stagnant over the last several years. Courthouse security also needs more funding, judges told the Journal. Threats toward prosecutors and judges have been escalating ever since the 2020 presidential election. Death threats, intimidation, doxxing, and harassment are becoming increasingly commonplace. Ronald Davis, a former director of the U.S. Marshals, told ABC News in February that threats against judges have grown at an 'alarming rate.' According to data from the U.S. Marshals, the number of judges receiving threats more than doubled between 2019 and 2024. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts wrote of 'a significant uptick in identified threats at all levels of the judiciary' in his 2024 year-end report. Since then, Trump and his acolytes have only increased their ire toward the judiciary as judges issue rulings against the administration's immigration policies, attempts to decimate the federal bureaucracy, and more. Anti-judicial rhetoric online rose by 327 percent between May 2024 and March 2025, according to a study by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) published earlier this month. The study's findings 'suggest that a rise in anti-democratic language from prominent American figures on the far right likely influenced extremists on social media to also attack the judiciary, leading to large increases in violent language and calls for impeachment targeting judges on several platforms.' Threats against the judiciary on TikTok, GPAHE found in a study published in March, increased by 90 percent in the first two months of this year. Threats on Truth Social, the platform owned by the president, nearly doubled (94 percent increase). More from Rolling Stone Trump's ICE Detains U.S. Citizen, Claiming His REAL ID Was Fake Joe Biden Struggling to Bring In Cash After 2024 Election Catastrophe Trump Brags to West Point Grads He Can Do Whatever He Wants Now Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
