History of Mike Pompeo in Timeline
Michael Richard Pompeo is an American retired politician prominent for his roles in the Trump administration. He served as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and later as the 70th United States Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021. Before his executive branch appointments, Pompeo was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Kansas's 4th congressional district from 2011 to 2017.
1900: Great-Grandparent's Emigration
In 1900, Mike Pompeo's paternal great-grandmother, Adelina Tollis, emigrated to the United States from Italy.
December 30, 1963: Mike Pompeo's Birth
On December 30, 1963, Michael Richard Pompeo was born.
1982: High School Graduation
In 1982, Mike Pompeo graduated from Los Amigos High School.
1986: Service in the U.S. Army
In 1986, Mike Pompeo began serving in the U.S. Army as an armor officer with the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry in the 4th Infantry Division, based in West Germany.
1986: Military Academy Graduation
In 1986, Mike Pompeo graduated first in his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he majored in engineering management.
1986: Graduation from United States Military Academy
In 1986, Mike Pompeo graduated from the United States Military Academy and began his five-year service as a United States Army officer.
1986: Pompeo marries Leslie Libert
In 1986, Pompeo married Leslie Libert, whom he later divorced.
1991: Left the U.S. Army
In 1991, Mike Pompeo left the U.S. Army at the rank of captain.
1994: Graduated from Harvard Law School
In 1994, Mike Pompeo earned a juris doctor from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review and the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy.
1996: Moved to Wichita and Acquired Aircraft-Parts Manufacturers
In 1996, Mike Pompeo moved to Wichita, Kansas, and with friends, acquired several aircraft-parts manufacturers, renaming the entity Thayer Aerospace.
1998: Became an Entrepreneur
In 1998, Mike Pompeo became an entrepreneur in the aerospace and oilfield industries after working as an attorney.
2000: Pompeo marries Susan Justice Mostrous
In 2000, Pompeo married Susan Justice Mostrous and formally adopted her son, Nicholas.
2006: Sold Interest in Aerospace Company
In 2006, Mike Pompeo sold his interest in Nex-Tech Aerospace and became president of Sentry International, an oilfield equipment manufacturer.
2007: Pompeo serves as local church deacon
From 2007 to 2009, Pompeo served as a local church deacon and taught Sunday school.
2009: Pompeo served as a local church deacon
From 2007 to 2009, Pompeo served as a local church deacon and taught Sunday school.
2009: Pompeo signed the No Climate Tax pledge
In 2009, Pompeo signed the No Climate Tax pledge of Americans for Prosperity, indicating his opposition to climate-related taxes.
2010: Elected to the United States House of Representatives
In 2010, Mike Pompeo was elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing Kansas's 4th congressional district.
2010: Won Republican Primary for Kansas's 4th District
In the 2010 election, Mike Pompeo won the Republican primary for Kansas's 4th District congressional seat with 39% of the vote.
May 31, 2011: Pompeo votes to eliminate funding for United Nations Population Fund
On May 31, 2011, Pompeo voted for H.R.2059, which eliminated funding for the United Nations Population Fund.
2011: Represented Kansas's 4th Congressional District
From 2011, Mike Pompeo represented Kansas's 4th congressional district.
2011: House of Representatives
In 2011, Mike Pompeo served in the United States House of Representatives.
2012: Pompeo calls for elimination of wind power production tax credits
In 2012, Pompeo advocated for the permanent elimination of wind power production tax credits, deeming them an "enormous government handout".
2012: Defeated Robert Tillman
In the 2012 election, Pompeo defeated Democratic nominee Robert Tillman by a margin of 62–32%.
2013: Pompeo visits Guantanamo Bay detention camp
After a 2013 visit to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Pompeo commented on prisoners on hunger strike, stating, "It looked to me like a lot of them had put on weight."
2013: Pompeo speaks on climate change
In 2013, Pompeo expressed skepticism about climate change, stating the existence of differing scientific opinions on the matter and suggesting climate has been stable for the prior 16 years.
2013: Pompeo supports NSA surveillance programs
In 2013, Pompeo voiced his support for the surveillance programs conducted by the National Security Agency (NSA), describing their work as "good and important".
2013: Pompeo's remarks on Muslim leaders
In a 2013 speech, Pompeo stated that Muslim leaders who do not denounce acts of terrorism committed in the name of Islam are "potentially complicit" in the attacks, prompting criticism from the Council on American–Islamic Relations.
2013: Pompeo supports the US federal government shutdown
Pompeo supported the United States federal government shutdown of 2013, attributing blame to President Obama and justifying the shutdown as necessary to prevent a future "American financial collapse".
March 2014: Pompeo denounces Edward Snowden's telecast
In March 2014, Pompeo condemned the inclusion of a telecast by Edward Snowden at the South by Southwest conference, calling for its cancellation and predicting it would encourage "lawless behavior".
2014: Pompeo shares religious views with church group
In 2014, Pompeo told a church group that Christians needed to "know that Jesus Christ as our savior is truly the only solution for our world".
2014: Russian Annexation of Crimea
In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, leading to sanctions. Pompeo later contrasted this with the U.S. recognition of Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights, citing security concerns for Israel.
2014: Won General Election
In the 2014 election, Pompeo won the general election with 67% of the vote, defeating Democrat Perry Schuckman.
July 21, 2015: Pompeo alleges secret side agreements between Iran and IAEA
On July 21, 2015, Pompeo, along with Senator Tom Cotton, claimed the existence of secret side agreements between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning procedures for inspecting and verifying Iran's nuclear activities under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
November 2015: Pompeo visits Israel
In November 2015, Pompeo visited Israel and declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be "a true partner of the American people."
2015: Withdrawal from Iran Nuclear Deal
In 2015, Mike Pompeo advocated for the withdrawal of the United States from the nuclear deal with Iran.
2015: Sponsored the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act
In 2015, Mike Pompeo was the original sponsor of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act.
2015: Pompeo opposes greenhouse gas regulations
In 2015, Pompeo opposed the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and advocated for the elimination of the United States federal register of greenhouse gas emissions. He also voted against the Clean Power Plan.
2015: Pompeo's talk at a church
In 2015, during a talk at a church, Pompeo stated that "politics is a never-ending struggle ... until the Rapture."
February 2016: Pompeo calls for Snowden's death sentence
In February 2016, Pompeo stated that Edward Snowden "should be brought back from Russia and given due process, and I think the proper outcome would be that he would be given a death sentence."
November 18, 2016: Nomination for CIA Director
On November 18, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Pompeo to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
2016: Pompeo receives "national security eagle award"
In 2016, ACT for America presented Pompeo with a "national security eagle award" in recognition of his remarks concerning Islam.
2016: Met with William E. Binney
In 2016, At Trump's request, Mike Pompeo met with former NSA official William E. Binney to discuss his doubts of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.
2016: Democratic senators running for reelection in states that Trump won
In 2016, Five of ten Democratic senators running for reelection in 2018 in states that Trump won, voting to confirm Pompeo.
2016: Shift to Trump Supporter
In 2016, Mike Pompeo shifted from being a critic of Donald Trump to becoming a supporter after Trump became the Republican nominee.
2016: Pompeo advocates for comprehensive surveillance database
In 2016, Pompeo advocated for Congress to enact legislation reinstating the collection of all metadata, integrating it with publicly accessible financial and lifestyle information into a searchable database, and removing legal obstacles to surveillance.
2016: Beat Daniel Giroux
In the 2016 election, Pompeo beat Democrat Daniel B. Giroux in the general election with 61% of the vote.
January 2017: Appointment as CIA Director
In January 2017, Donald Trump appointed Mike Pompeo as the director of the CIA.
January 2017: Appointment to Director of the CIA
In January 2017, Mike Pompeo was appointed director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
January 2017: Reaffirmation of Saudi Arabia–United States Relations
In January 2017, Pompeo reaffirmed Saudi Arabia–United States relations since Trump took office.
January 23, 2017: Confirmed as CIA Director
On January 23, 2017, Mike Pompeo was confirmed by the Senate as the director of the CIA and was sworn in later that day.
February 2017: Traveled to Turkey and Saudi Arabia
In February 2017, Mike Pompeo traveled to Turkey and Saudi Arabia to discuss policy on Syria and ISIL and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia–United States relations.
March 2017: Invoked State Secrets Privilege
In March 2017, Mike Pompeo formally invoked state secrets privilege to prevent CIA officers from being compelled to testify in the trial of Bruce Jessen and James Elmer Mitchell.
March 2017: WikiLeaks Vault 7 Publication
In March 2017, WikiLeaks began publishing the Vault 7 documents, which detailed the CIA's electronic surveillance and cyber warfare activities.
April 2017: Pompeo calls WikiLeaks a non-state hostile intelligence service
In an April 2017 speech, Pompeo referred to WikiLeaks as "a non-state hostile intelligence service" and labeled Julian Assange a "narcissist" and "a fraud—a coward hiding behind a screen".
April 2017: Described WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service"
On 13 April 2017, in an address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Pompeo described WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service."
June 2017: Named Michael D'Andrea head of the CIA's Iran mission center
In June 2017, Mike Pompeo named Michael D'Andrea head of the CIA's Iran mission center.
July 2017: Pompeo expresses desire for denuclearization
In July 2017, Pompeo stated, regarding North Korea, that "It would be a great thing to denuclearize the peninsula, to get those weapons off of that, but the thing that is most dangerous about it is the character who holds the control over them today."
August 2017: Took Direct Command of Counterintelligence Mission Center
In August 2017, Mike Pompeo took direct command of the Counterintelligence Mission Center.
September 2017: Sought Authority for Covert Drone Strikes
In September 2017, Mike Pompeo sought authority for the CIA to make covert drone strikes without the Pentagon's involvement.
2017: Director of the CIA
In 2017, Mike Pompeo served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
2017: End of Term in the House of Representatives
In 2017, Mike Pompeo's service in the United States House of Representatives came to an end.
2017: Pompeo works to undermine Iran nuclear deal
In 2017, Pompeo actively worked to undermine the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear agreement with Iran, characterizing it as a "disastrous deal with the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism" and suggesting a military solution to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities.
2017: Pompeo supports moving US embassy to Jerusalem
In 2017, Pompeo expressed his support for President Trump's decision to relocate the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
2017: Named Former Business Partner as COO
In 2017, when Mike Pompeo became head of the CIA, he named his former business partner, Brian Bulatao, the agency's chief operating officer.
March 13, 2018: Nomination as Secretary of State
On March 13, 2018, President Trump announced that he would nominate Pompeo to serve as secretary of state.
March 31, 2018: Rex Tillerson Stepped Down
On March 31, 2018, Rex Tillerson stepped down as secretary of state.
April 2018: Appointment as Secretary of State
In April 2018, Donald Trump appointed Mike Pompeo as the Secretary of State.
April 26, 2018: Sworn in as Secretary of State
On April 26, 2018, Mike Pompeo was sworn in as Secretary of State, promising to improve morale at the State Department.
July 2018: Raised Issue of Xinjiang Internment Camps
In July 2018, Mike Pompeo raised the issue of Xinjiang internment camps and human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority in China.
August 2018: Thanked Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman
In August 2018, Mike Pompeo thanked Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman "for Saudi Arabia's support for northeast Syria's urgent stabilization needs" and discussed the situation in Yemen.
August 2018: Pompeo calls for Russia to release Oleg Sentsov
In August 2018, Pompeo urged Russia to "immediately release" Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who was imprisoned.
September 2018: Pompeo backs continued US military support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen
In September 2018, Pompeo supported continued U.S. military support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, potentially jeopardizing $2 billion in weapons sales to America's Gulf allies.
October 2, 2018: Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi
On October 2, 2018, Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated, an event that would later lead to a CIA assessment concluding Saudi Arabia's crown prince ordered the assassination.
October 10, 2018: Stated Israel is Everything the U.S. Wants the Middle East to Look Like
On October 10, 2018, Mike Pompeo said Israel "is everything we want the entire Middle East to look like going forward" and that the Israel–United States relations are "stronger than ever".
November 2018: Pompeo blames Iran for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen
In November 2018, Pompeo attributed the humanitarian crisis in Yemen to Iran's actions, while highlighting Saudi Arabia's humanitarian relief efforts in the region.
November 16, 2018: CIA Assessment Leak and Pompeo's Dispute
On November 16, 2018, a CIA assessment concluding Saudi Arabia's crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi's assassination was leaked to the media. Pompeo disputed the CIA's conclusion, stating there was no direct evidence linking the Crown Prince to the assassination amid pressure from lawmakers for action against Saudi Arabia.
2018: Visited North Korea and Met with Kim Jong-un
During Easter weekend in 2018, Mike Pompeo visited North Korea and met with Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un to discuss the upcoming 2018 North Korea–United States summit between Kim and Trump.
2018: Secretary of State
In 2018, Mike Pompeo served as the 70th United States secretary of state.
2018: Nomination Sent to Full Senate
On April 23, 2018, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 11–9 in favor of sending Pompeo's nomination to the full Senate.
January 7, 2019: Pompeo's Middle East Diplomatic Tour
On January 7, 2019, Pompeo began a diplomatic tour of the Middle East, including stops in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and the Gulf nations, to reassure U.S. partners that the mission to degrade the Islamic State and counter Iranian influence remained unchanged despite the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.
January 23, 2019: US Recognizes Juan Guaidó as Venezuelan President
On January 23, 2019, Pompeo announced that the U.S. would recognize Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela and that American diplomats would remain in Caracas. A ceremony for Pompeo and Jair Bolsonaro was canceled due to protests over Bolsonaro's remarks.
March 2019: Spoke of the Lord at Work in Israel
In March 2019, following a visit to the Western Wall with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mike Pompeo spoke to "the work that our administration's done to make sure that this democracy in the Middle East, that this Jewish state, remains ... I am confident that the Lord is at work here."
March 2019: Pompeo-Giuliani Communications
In late March 2019, Pompeo and Rudy Giuliani exchanged emails and phone calls before Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch was recalled from Ukraine. Giuliani later admitted to speaking with Pompeo to relay information he had gathered during his Ukrainian research, and provided him memos of his interviews with former Ukrainian prosecutors.
April 2019: Speech at Texas A&M University
In an April 2019 speech at Texas A&M University, Mike Pompeo said "I was the CIA director. We lied, we cheated, we stole. It was like we had entire training courses . . . it reminds you of the glory of the American experiment."
May 14, 2019: Pompeo Meets with Lavrov and Putin in Sochi
On May 14, 2019, Pompeo met with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia. They discussed Syria, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, and the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Pompeo raised the issue of Russian election interference, which Putin denied.
May 2019: Emergency Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE
In May 2019, Pompeo announced an "emergency" to push through $8.1 billion of arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This decision faced congressional opposition due to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen caused by the Saudi-led intervention.
May 2019: Pompeo acts against Arctic environmental protection
In May 2019, Pompeo opposed environmental protection at the Arctic Council, refusing to sign a joint statement unless all mentions of climate change were removed and asserting that climate change could be beneficial for the Arctic.
July 25, 2019: Trump's Call with Zelenskyy
On July 25, 2019, President Trump made a controversial call to Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, soliciting assistance in investigating Joe Biden's son. Pompeo initially claimed little knowledge of the call, but it was later confirmed that he had been on the call.
October 1, 2019: House Chairmen Condemn Efforts to Intimidate Witnesses
On October 1, 2019, the chairmen of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Intelligence Committee, and House Oversight Committee stated that any effort to intimidate witnesses or prevent them from talking with Congress—including State Department employees—is illegal and would constitute evidence of obstruction of the impeachment inquiry, after Pompeo resisted subpoenas for documents regarding Trump's communications with Ukraine.
October 2019: Promotion of Pompeo's Speech "On Being a Christian Leader"
In October 2019, the State Department promoted a speech by Pompeo, "On Being a Christian Leader", delivered to the American Association of Christian Counselors. This promotion sparked criticism for potentially violating the separation of church and state. Pompeo also created the Commission on Unalienable Rights and a faith-based employee affinity group.
October 22, 2019: Taylor's Testimony on Ukraine Aid
On October 22, 2019, William B. Taylor Jr. testified that the White House was withholding military aid to Ukraine to force cooperation on U.S. domestic political issues, that Rudy Giuliani was running a shadow foreign policy effort, and that Pompeo failed to respond directly to complaints about the "effort to hijack" the U.S. relationship with Ukraine.
October 23, 2019: Freedom of Information Act Request
On October 23, 2019, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by American Oversight led a federal judge to order the State Department to release Ukraine-related records within 30 days, including communications between Pompeo and Rudy Giuliani.
November 2019: U.S. Policy Shift on Israeli Settlements
In November 2019, Pompeo announced that the U.S. no longer views Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as a violation of international law, breaking with decades of U.S. policy.
November 20, 2019: Sondland's Public Testimony
On November 20, 2019, Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, testified that Rick Perry, Kurt Volker, and he stayed in touch with Rudy Giuliani regarding President Trump's expectation that Ukraine's President Zelenskyy would make a public statement committing to investigate corruption issues. Sondland noted that Pompeo was kept informed of these activities, and as late as September 24, Pompeo was still directing Volker to speak with Giuliani.
November 26, 2019: Ukraine Interference Conspiracy Theory
On November 26, 2019, Pompeo appeared to grant legitimacy to a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, rather than or in addition to Russia, was behind interference in the 2016 United States elections. Pompeo said that any information indicating that any country has interfered with American elections should be investigated.
2019: Pompeo Defends Turkish Offensive into North-Eastern Syria
In 2019, Pompeo defended the Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, citing Turkey's "legitimate security concern" regarding a "terrorist threat to their south." He denied that the United States had given a "green light" for Turkey to attack the Kurds.
January 2020: Pompeo Admonishes NPR's Mary Louise Kelly
In January 2020, Pompeo abruptly ended an interview with Mary Louise Kelly of NPR's All Things Considered, and privately admonished her for asking questions regarding Ukraine during the interview.
January 2020: Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
In January 2020, the Trump administration approved a drone strike that assassinated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Pompeo was reportedly among the most hawkish advisors during the decision meeting. Pompeo asserted the attack disrupted an "imminent attack" by Soleimani operatives.
March 5, 2020: ICC Approves Investigation into US Crimes in Afghanistan
On March 5, 2020, the ICC initially approved an investigation into alleged US crimes in Afghanistan, but conditions included visa restrictions on Pompeo's instruction from the Department of State.
March 17, 2020: Pompeo Threatens ICC Staff Members
On March 17, 2020, Pompeo threatened two staff members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Phakiso Mochochoko and ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, for investigating Americans, intimating the US could act against them, other ICC personnel, and their families.
April 23, 2020: Claims Regarding COVID-19 Origin
On April 23, 2020, Pompeo claimed that China had denied U.S. scientists permission to enter the country to ascertain the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 13, 2020: Pompeo's Visit to Israel
On May 13, 2020, Pompeo made a swift visit to Israel, marking his first overseas trip since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
May 2020: Firing of Inspector General Linick
In May 2020, Trump fired Inspector General Steve Linick at Pompeo's recommendation, leading to scrutiny from Congress.
June 2020: Pompeo Declines to Run for Senate
In June 2020, Pompeo ultimately declined to enter the race for the U.S. Senate seat in Kansas after considering leaving the Trump administration, after four-term U.S. senator Pat Roberts announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2020 election.
June 2020: Linick's Testimony
In June 2020, Steve Linick testified that Brian Bulatao, a senior State Department appointee and Pompeo ally, attempted to improperly pressure him into halting the investigation into the propriety of the arms sale.
July 23, 2020: Pompeo announces end of "blind engagement" with China
On July 23, 2020, Pompeo declared the cessation of what he termed "blind engagement" with the Chinese government during his Communist China and the Free World's Future speech. He also criticized Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping.
August 2020: Afghan Government Prisoner Release
By August 2020, the Afghan government had released all but 400 of the 5,000 imprisoned Taliban members as required by the U.S.-Taliban deal. Pompeo urged the Afghan government to release the remaining prisoners to remove "the last obstacle to the start of intra-Afghan negotiations".
August 2020: OIG Report on Arms Sales and Akard's Resignation
In August 2020, Stephen Akard resigned as acting IG. The OIG released a report that Pompeo did not violate any procedures but also determined that the State Department had failed to fully consider the humanitarian impact of the arms sale to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
August 25, 2020: Speech at Republican National Convention
On August 25, 2020, Pompeo recorded a speech during an official diplomatic visit to Jerusalem for the Republican National Convention in support of Donald Trump. The speech broke precedent and was made against the advice of the State Department's senior legal advisers.
August 27, 2020: Pompeo's Middle East Trip to Encourage Normalization with Israel
On August 27, 2020, Pompeo concluded a Middle East trip after visiting Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al-Said, aimed at encouraging Arab countries to follow the UAE's normalization agreement with Israel. The trip yielded no additional public commitments, possibly due to concerns over the U.S. commitment to delivering F-35s to the UAE.
September 2020: Pompeo accuses China of fomenting racial unrest
In September 2020, Pompeo accused the Chinese government of attempting to incite racial unrest within the United States.
September 2020: Pompeo enacts sanctions against ICC officials
In September 2020, Pompeo implemented sanctions against the International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor and other officials, maintaining a non-cooperative stance towards the court.
September 2020: Resumption of "Madison Dinners" at Blair House
In September 2020, Pompeo resumed the taxpayer-funded "Madison dinners" at the Blair House, despite the controversy over them and concerns about public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 2020: Pompeo meets with Quad allies and accuses China of "exploitation, corruption and coercion"
In October 2020, following Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis, Pompeo canceled visits to South Korea and Mongolia but met with foreign ministers from Australia, India, and Japan, accusing the Chinese Communist Party of "exploitation, corruption and coercion".
November 10, 2020: Response to Election Results
On November 10, 2020, after Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election and Trump refused to concede while making false claims of fraud, Pompeo responded to a question about a smooth transition to the Biden administration by stating, "There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration."
December 2020: Controversial Holiday Parties
During December 2020, Pompeo hosted large indoor holiday parties that violated public health guidance and Washington D.C.'s restrictions on sizable indoor gatherings during a spike in COVID-19 cases. Many invitees rejected invitations, and the final party was canceled after Pompeo came into contact with a COVID-19 positive individual.
2020: Supported Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election
In 2020, Mike Pompeo supported Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
2020: Decline to Offer Consular Protection to Joshua Wong
In 2020, Pompeo declined to offer U.S. consular protection to Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, despite appeals, due to concerns about potential retaliation from Beijing and broader U.S. interests.
January 12, 2021: Cancelled European Trip
On January 12, 2021, Pompeo cancelled a planned European trip when European diplomats declined to meet with him.
January 2021: Joined Hudson Institute
In January 2021, Pompeo joined the Hudson Institute as a distinguished fellow.
January 19, 2021: Determination of Genocide in Xinjiang
On January 19, 2021, Pompeo announced that the Department of State had determined that "genocide and crimes against humanity" had been perpetrated by China against the Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.
January 20, 2021: Sanctions by China
On January 20, 2021, Pompeo and several other Trump administration officials were sanctioned by China for "seriously violated China's sovereignty".
April 2, 2021: Biden Administration Reverses Sanctions on ICC
On April 2, 2021, the Biden administration reversed the sanctions that were placed on the International Criminal Court (ICC).
April 2021: Release of Review Report on Pompeo's Ethics Violations
In April 2021, a review report was released after Trump fired State Department inspector general Steve Linick in May 2020. The report found over 100 instances of misconduct where Pompeo requested State Department staff to perform personal errands for him and his wife.
June 2021: Founded Champion American Values PAC
In June 2021, Pompeo founded the Champion American Values PAC (CAVPAC).
August 2021: Distancing from Afghanistan Situation
In August 2021, Pompeo expressed support for the Biden administration's extension of the withdrawal timeline of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, but ultimately distanced himself from the situation following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.
November 2021: Office of Special Counsel Report on Hatch Act Violation
In November 2021, the Office of the Special Counsel released a report concluding that Pompeo violated the Hatch Act by giving a speech at the Republican National Convention. The office found that Pompeo had known of the Hatch Act's restrictions before giving the speech.
2021: End of Term as Secretary of State
In 2021, Mike Pompeo's tenure as the United States secretary of state came to an end.
2021: CREW Reveals Cost of "Madison Dinners"
In 2021, records obtained by CREW through a FOIA lawsuit revealed that the "Madison dinners" had cost almost $65,000, including more than $10,000 for custom-engraved, Chinese-made pens given as gifts to attendees. The funds came from a special appropriation fund for emergencies in the diplomatic service called the K Fund.
2021: Regret over North Korea Progress
In a 2021 interview with a conservative podcast, Mike Pompeo said that "I regret that we didn't make more progress" on North Korea.
January 2022: Pompeo says he lost over 90 lb in six months
In an interview with Fox News in January 2022, Pompeo claimed to have lost over 90 lb in the prior six months through self-guided exercises and dietary changes, a claim met with skepticism by experts.
February 2022: Pompeo praises Vladimir Putin before Russia invaded Ukraine
In February 2022, right before Russia invaded Ukraine, Pompeo gave an interview in which he praised Russian president Vladimir Putin. Russian state television aired the interview.
March 4, 2022: Speech to Prospect Foundation
On March 4, 2022, Pompeo delivered a speech to the Taiwanese government-affiliated think tank Prospect Foundation, calling on the United States to recognize the Republic of China as an independent country. Pompeo was paid to deliver this speech.
August 2022: Assassination Plot by Iran
In August 2022 it emerged that Pompeo was the target of an assassination plot by Iran.
2022: Lawsuit Filed Against Pompeo Over Assange Surveillance
In 2022, a lawsuit was initiated against Pompeo and others, alleging they illegally subjected Julian Assange and his guests to surveillance.
January 2023: Publication of Memoir
In January 2023, HarperCollins published Pompeo's memoir of his tenure in the Trump administration, "Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love."
April 2023: Decision Not to Run for President
In April 2023, Pompeo announced his decision not to run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
October 2023: Joined Oberheiden, P.C.
In October 2023, Pompeo became Of counsel for Texas-based law firm Oberheiden, P.C., a federal criminal defense law firm.
2023: Pompeo claims Israel has a biblical claim to Palestinian territories
During a podcast interview in 2023, Pompeo asserted that Israel has a biblical claim to the Palestinian territories, dismissing the situation as an occupation and referring to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas as a "known terrorist".
2023: Featured in Documentary
In 2023, Pompeo featured in the documentary "Route 60: The Biblical Highway", directed by Matt Crouch, alongside David M. Friedman.
2023: Joined Cyabra Board of Directors
In 2023, Pompeo joined the board of directors of Cyabra, an Israeli counter-disinformation company.
January 2024: Pompeo's Testimony on Hong Kong Activist Joshua Wong
During a January 2024 House Select Committee hearing, Pompeo addressed the issue of offering U.S. consular protection to Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong in 2020, stating that the U.S. could have done more to protect Wong and other activists.
May 2024: Pompeo visits Taiwan and reiterates support for official U.S. recognition
In May 2024, Pompeo returned to Taiwan as part of the American delegation to the inauguration of President William Lai. He met with Lai the following day, reiterating his support for official U.S. recognition of the country.
2024: Trump Announced Pompeo will not be back in administration
After Trump's victory in the 2024 election, Trump declared that Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley would not be back in his next administration.
2024: Pompeo's Book and Presumed Presidential Candidacy
In 2024, Pompeo's book, Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love, was released amid speculations of his candidacy in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. In the book, Pompeo denigrated Jamal Khashoggi, the assassination victim, as an "activist" with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
January 22, 2025: Revocation of Security Detail
On January 22, 2025, President Trump revoked Pompeo's security detail.
February 2025: Hired by Columbia University
In February 2025, Pompeo was hired by Columbia University as a distinguished fellow at its Institute of Global Politics to teach a course on diplomacy, decision-making, and organizational leadership.
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