Mike Pompeo's 'flat' RNC speech mostly overshadowed by preceding controversy
After all the controversy that preceded it, critics were mostly underwhelmed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's pre-taped speech that aired Tuesday night during the Republican National Convention.
Pompeo didn't stray off path while delivering his remarks and simply touted what he considers to be President Trump's foreign policy highlights, including the recent U.S.-brokered agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Trump's response to China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and the strengthening of NATO. The content, combined with Pompeo's delivery, had viewers yawning.
Meh speech from Pompeo. Well behind Haley among convo speakers for 2024 presidential sweepstakes.
— Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) August 26, 2020
The speech was the talk of the town the last few days, since State Department policy urges officials to refrain from participating in political events, and a Secretary of State campaigning for the president during a party convention is believed to be unprecedented. The fact that it was taped while Pompeo was on an official diplomatic trip to Israel was especially troublesome in the eyes of diplomats and lawmakers.
Ultimately, though, it looks like those concerns will continue to overshadow the actual address. Michael Koplow, the policy director for Israel Policy Forum, tweeted that "for all the blowback and controversy Pompeo caused with that speech, you'd think he would have seized the moment a bit more. What an empty speech and completely flat delivery." Watch the full speech below.
Breaking with past precedent of secretaries of state not addressing political conventions, Mike Pompeo in pre-taped remarks to the RNC praises President Trump's foreign policy, saying he has "led bold initiatives in nearly every corner of the world" https://t.co/Le9MDdEWuZ pic.twitter.com/tIUDoob02O
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 26, 2020
More stories from theweek.com
Trump's RNC role is a much bigger mistake than Republicans realize
Trump calls for drug tests before presidential debates
Trump's D.C. hotel hosting at least 15 events for donors amid RNC, including bourbon tasting with Rand Paul