Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in his first public comments on the matter, forcefully condemned Democratic freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D., Minn.) use of anti-Semitic tropes, calling them "abhorrent" and condemning her repeated anti-Semitic declarations as contributing to the rise of anti-Semitism across the globe.
Pompeo, who is in Israel for meetings with top officials, was asked during an interview in Jerusalem about Omar’s repeated declarations that influential Jewish people control politics and foreign policy.
Pompeo did not mince words, calling Omar’s rhetoric "deeply troubling" and inappropriate for a member of Congress.
"To see this from a member of Congress like Congresswoman Omar is—I talked about this being dark," Pompeo said in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network. "The rise of anti-Semitism in the United States and in Europe and in, frankly, all across the world is something that is deeply troubling, and to see someone—a duly elected congressman—behave in that way, to speak about anti-Semitism in that way, is of great concern."
Pompeo, as secretary of state, has commented several times in public about the scourge of rising anti-Semitism in Europe and now the United States.
"It’s a great concern to me," Pompeo added. "This administration speaks the truth, and anti-Semitism is unacceptable in any form from anyone, but to see it come from one of America’s leaders is just abhorrent."
Pompeo is in the region to discuss security with his Israeli counterparts, as well as efforts to counter Iran’s malign influence in the region.