U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday in Nashville that his department has been speaking the truth when it comes to religious freedom and human rights worldwide.
But, in his remarks to the American Association of Christian Counselors, Pompeo didn’t mention a group that has resettled in the city after fleeing persecution.
Pompeo used most of his time to explain what being a Christian leader means to him. He mentioned “truth” as an important piece, something he says President Donald Trump and his administration have provided on many issues.
“For example, on China’s rule breaking and authoritarianism. For example on why the Islamic Republic of Iran is an aggressor not a victim,” Pompeo told the over 6,000 people gathered in a Gaylord Opryland ballroom. “For why in fact we know in our hearts that America is a force for good in the world.”
The former CIA director also talked about abortion, claiming that some international groups where trying to “sneak in language to declare abortion a human right.”
He said the administration will “never accept that.”
But Pompeo didn’t mention — not even once — the Kurds.
This is significant since Nashville is home to the largest Kurdish refugee community in the U.S. And their people have recently being under threat again after the Trump administration decided to withdraw troops from the Turkey-Syria border.
Local Kurds are pushing back and they are holding a demonstration on Friday afternoon.
Pompeo is in the middle of controversy, as diplomats have come out with concerns about the State Department being politicized.
Pompeo has defended the president’s action of asking the Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden.
He confirmed he was on the call with Trump and Zelenskiy, and described the call as “completely common.”
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM