Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he remains unconcerned about any potential fallout even as controversy continues over the Trump administration's decision to impose trade tariffs and questions remain over children separated from their parents at the U.S. border with Mexico, CNN is reporting.
"I am not at all concerned that anyone in the world can look at the United States and understand it to be anything but a beacon of hope, democracy and freedom," Pompeo told the news network. "We have a long history of that and it has continued under the Trump administration."
He strongly defended the administration's agenda.
"I have the amazing blessing of being the foreign minister for the most generous nation in the history of civilization," Pompeo told CNN.
In a telephone interview with the news network, Pompeo applauded the diplomatic efforts leading up to the recent summit in Singapore between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
"We did great work," Pompeo said. "The team was fantastic in Singapore helping the president execute that mission."
He remained confident that North Korea has shifted toward abandoning its nuclear ambitions, according to CNN.
Meanwhile, Pompeo noted preparations are underway for Trump's appearance at a meeting in July of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. And he sought to downplay any talk of a rift between the U.S. and Europe.
He said U.S. actions may pose "challenges," but maintained they are "in line with the kind of discussions that the United States and Europe have had for decades."
"There are so many things where we share common values and common concerns," he said. "But in the end, the traditional value-driven alliance between Europe and the United States, that transatlantic alliance will remain strong as it has for coming on 70 years now."
CNN noted Trump is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon after the NATO meeting. And Pompeo said there were a number of issues responsible for the strained relationship between the U.S. and Russia.
"Make no mistake, President Trump agrees Russia interfering in our election is something they simply cannot do," Pompeo said, referring to the midterms elections.
But he maintained there is no "single issue" that has driven a wedge between the two nations.
"Whether it's the battlefield in Syria, the situation in Ukraine, the Russians' active measures, I am sure there are many topics that President Trump and President Putin will discuss and each of them is important to trying to put the relationship back in place with a common set of understandings," he said.
CNN reported that when Pompeo took over as secretary two months ago, he had inherited a State Department with low morale and a depleted staff. He has pushed to fill several top vacant positions and expects to hire additional staff this summer, the news network said.
However, Politico reported many in the department feel conned by his promise to lift a hiring freeze imposed by his predecessor, Rex Tillerson. And they claim to have been told that many of the jobs cut by Tillerson will remain unfilled – at least for now.
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