Pompeo: "Foreign Leaders Should Not Make Mistakes When Greeting Biden"

Mentioned Immediately After Call with Key Leaders and Biden: "The President and Secretary of State Are One"
Logan Act Cited, Prohibiting Contact Between Overseas Governments and Civilians
Denies Denying Question on Sincerity of "Smooth Transition to Trump Administration's Second Term"
Trump Supports Pompeo's Remarks: "That's Why He Graduated First in West Point"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has issued a warning regarding foreign governments' approach to President-elect Joe Biden. When asked whether his statement that "a smooth transition to a second Trump administration will take place" was sincere, Pompeo did not deny it.

In an interview with Fox News on the 10th (local time), Pompeo was asked, "Is it inappropriate for foreign leaders to contact Biden?" He replied, "If it is just a greeting, it might not be so terrible. But mistakes must not be made. There is only one President, Secretary of State, and national security team of the United States."

This was interpreted as a warning regarding Biden's recent calls with the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Ireland, where he began discussing U.S. foreign relations.

Pompeo went on to say, "Over the past four years, personnel from the previous administration have refused to step down from the stage. They are now talking about healing and transition," naming former Obama administration foreign and security officials such as John Kerry, Susan Rice, and Wendy Sherman.

Pompeo claimed, "They have acted on the world stage with positions different from the Trump administration. It is regrettable that their actions did not align with the interests of the United States."

He also pointed out that the foreign activities of Democratic Party affiliates could potentially violate the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments to influence U.S. foreign policy.

This implies that the controversy surrounding Michael Flynn, the first National Security Advisor of the Trump administration, who was accused of violating the Logan Act by contacting Russia before Trump's inauguration, could also apply to Biden's team.

Pompeo avoided giving an immediate stance on whether Biden is receiving daily intelligence briefings from national intelligence agencies. When asked, "Should Biden receive intelligence briefings?" he said, "Whether it is appropriate or not will be decided by others."

According to NBC, Biden has not been receiving the reports traditionally provided to president-elects by U.S. intelligence agencies. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which oversees U.S. intelligence agencies, told NBC that it will not engage with the transition team until Biden is officially recognized by the General Services Administration.

Meanwhile, in the same interview, Pompeo maintained his previous position when asked if he was sincere about a smooth transition to a second Trump administration. Pompeo responded, "The transition will proceed smoothly, and once all votes are counted, the ultimate choice of the people will be seen."

President Trump retweeted Pompeo's statement video that evening, saying, "This is why Pompeo graduated first in his class at West Point."