EU snub Pompeo in final trip, diplomats say

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo canceled his Europe trip at the last minute on Tuesday after being snubbed by European Union officials, diplomats familiar with the matter said.

Luxembourg's foreign minister and top EU officials cancelled meetings with Pompeo because they were 'embarrassed' by the violence at the U.S. Capitol last week when U.S. President Donald Trump's supporters rioted to stop the certification of the presidential election results.

Pompeo condemned the violence, but made no mention of the President's role in galvanizing his supporters.

Appalled by the deadly riot, Luxembourg foreign minister Jean Asselborn called Trump a 'criminal' and 'political pyromaniac' in a radio interview the next day.

Luxembourg's foreign ministry confirmed Pompeo's planned stop there was canceled, but declined to give further details.

In Brussels, Pompeo was also scheduled to meet with Belgium's Foreign Minister and NATO's Secretary-General, but sources said EU and NATO allies were reluctant to schedule meetings.

The EU declined to comment.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department attributed the cancellations to transition work before President-elect Joe Biden takes office on January 20.

The State Department declined further comment on Pompeo's rejected meetings.

EU officials have said they were exhausted by Trump's unpredictable foreign policies and are eager to build fresh ties with Biden.