Mike Pompeo on Jeremy Corbyn

Vocal opponent of Corbyn (strong)

TL;DR

Mike Pompeo vowed the U.S. would actively work to oppose Jeremy Corbyn's potential election as British Prime Minister.

Key Points

He stated in June 2019 that the US would “push back” against Jeremy Corbyn if he were elected Prime Minister, citing risks to the Jewish community.
Pompeo affirmed the US would not wait for a Corbyn government to take action, calling it "too risky and too important and too hard once it's already happened."
The comments, made in a leaked private recording to Jewish leaders, drew immediate condemnation from Labour as an unacceptable interference in UK democracy.

Summary

Mike Pompeo took a strong, negative public stance against Jeremy Corbyn, stating that the United States would actively work to oppose him becoming Prime Minister due to concerns over the potential impact on the British Jewish community and other geopolitical interests. This position was revealed through a leaked recording of a private meeting in June 2019, where he told Jewish leaders the U.S. would “push back” against Corbyn before he could take office, asserting it was too risky to wait until after an election.

The context for his opposition included allegations of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party under Corbyn’s leadership, and Corbyn’s perceived opposition to US foreign policy, particularly regarding Venezuela and potentially NATO or Trident. His comments sparked significant outrage in Britain, with Labour accusing the US official of unacceptable interference in the UK's democracy. This intervention occurred shortly after the sitting US President also publicly expressed a preference for a different candidate in UK politics.

Key Quotes

It could be that Mr. Corbyn manages to run the gauntlet and get elected. It's possible. You should know, we won't wait for him to do those things to begin to push back. We will do our level best. … It's too risky and too important and too hard once it's already happened.”

Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations (as quoted in article) November 12, 2019

It could be that Mr. Corbyn manages to run the gantlet and get elected. It's possible. You should know, we won't wait for him to do those things to begin to push back. We will do our level best,” Pompeo said. “It's too risky and too important and too hard once it's already happened.”

Closed-door meeting with Jewish leaders in New York (as reported by WaPo) June 10, 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mike Pompeo's position on Jeremy Corbyn?

Mike Pompeo expressed a strong negative view of Jeremy Corbyn, threatening that the U.S. would intervene to oppose him should he become Prime Minister. He conveyed this position privately to Jewish leaders in 2019, citing concerns for the community's safety. He pledged that Washington would do its "level best" to push back against Corbyn's potential leadership.

What did Mike Pompeo say about Jeremy Corbyn after he was elected?

Mike Pompeo's most notable public statements regarding Jeremy Corbyn occurred before he became Prime Minister, specifically in June 2019. He vowed to actively work against a Corbyn government, which prompted accusations of unacceptable foreign interference in the UK's internal political process. The situation was highly contentious at the time of his statements.

Did Mike Pompeo believe Jeremy Corbyn was a threat?

Yes, the Secretary of State viewed Jeremy Corbyn's potential premiership as a significant threat, particularly regarding the security and difficulty of life for Jews in the UK. He also reportedly viewed Corbyn's opposition to US policy, such as on Venezuela, as 'disgusting'. Therefore, he felt preemptive action was necessary to prevent that outcome.