Mike Pompeo calls off his last state visit after Luxembourg’s FM calls Donald Trump a ‘criminal’

According to US officials said the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, abandoned his plans for his last state visit to Europe, starting with Luxembourg after the state’s Foreign Minister called Trump a “criminal”, reported AFP. 

In addition to his state visit to Luxembourg, Pompeo has also cancelled his trip to Belgium for a meeting with their Foreign Minister and the Secretary-General of NATO. 

The state visit to these countries in Europe would have been his final trip while serving the Trump administration as US President-elect Joe Biden will take office on January 20th. 

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A statement from the State Department said he was staying in Washington to ensure a “smooth and orderly” transition to the new administration.

But an official in Luxembourg told AFP on condition of anonymity that the visit was canceled after Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn called Trump a “criminal” in comments to RTL radio, reported AFP. 

Asselborn described Trump as a “political pyromaniac who must be brought before a court” over last week’s attack on the US Capitol by his supporters.

“He has ignored his own Constitution, court decisions and of course the election results,” the minister said.

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Even though significant officials have resigned from the Trump administration following the violence at the US Capitol last week, Pompeo has displayed a loyal stance towards Trump, reported AFP. 

The canceled trip rounds off four tumultuous years of US foreign policy under Trump that tested relations with Washington’s traditional allies in Europe.

Pompeo had not been scheduled to meet any top EU officials during his Brussels visit.