Mike Pompeo and Governor Kristi Noem criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin while navigating potential 2024 runs
CBSN
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for his military's actions in Ukraine on Friday. But both agreed with former President Donald Trump's belief that the foreign leader is "smart" and "savvy."
"I want to crush Vladimir Putin, too. But you don't pretend, you don't pretend that your enemy is weak when he's not. You don't pretend he's dumb when he's smart," Pompeo told CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa on Friday.
Pompeo, who served as secretary of state and CIA director in the Trump administration, told "Fox News Sunday" in January that Putin is a "very talented statesman. He has lots of gifts. He was a KGB agent for goodness sakes. He knows how to use power. And we should respect that."
