Amid growing rumors of a possible presidential run in 2024, Mike Pompeo is already earning criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.
The former Trump administration Secretary of State recently took to Twitter to express his concerns about the teaching of critical race theory, the academic movement begun in the 1970s, based on the idea racism is a social construct, not merely individual prejudice or bias.
Pompeo's Tweet read:
"If we teach that the founding of the United States of America was somehow flawed. It was corrupt. It was racist. That's really dangerous. It strikes at the very foundations of our country."
If we teach that the founding of the United States of America was somehow flawed. It was corrupt. It was racist. Th… https://t.co/aQFtvwzQWW— Mike Pompeo (@Mike Pompeo) 1625508099.0
Not surprisingly, Pompeo's critics and political adversaries were quick to respond.
They reminded him the founding fathers were well aware of the "flaws" in the constitution.
@mikepompeo The founders THEMSELVES said it was flawed and imperfect. That’s why they said they were trying to form… https://t.co/vqmgrwhwJZ— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1625661902.0
@mikepompeo If Mike Pompeo had read any history, he’d know that the original founding of the country in 1776 was *s… https://t.co/iHrDNE3VCf— E.J. Kalafarski (@E.J. Kalafarski) 1625660700.0
The founding was flawed. It was racist and it was sexist. That's our history. What's dangerous is failing to teach… https://t.co/ewfuGP28Yr— Amy McGrath (@Amy McGrath) 1625675277.0
@mikepompeo No, Mike, this strikes at the very foundations of our country and you support it. Truth isn’t the enemy… https://t.co/CCz6FyDqCc— Fred Wellman (@Fred Wellman) 1625667862.0
@mikepompeo I think Thomas Jefferson would disagree with you.— Marianne Williamson (@Marianne Williamson) 1625624375.0
Other users seriously questioned if Pompeo's statement even reflected true conservative or Christian ideals.
Even former colleagues.
I honestly never met a serious conservative who wouldn't admit that there were flaws at our founding. I mean, come… https://t.co/Od7VntcQVZ— Jamie Weinstein (@Jamie Weinstein) 1625665525.0
@mikepompeo The holy Bible, the most sacred book, had no problems telling the faults of the founders of the faith.… https://t.co/xypMTvdwrC— Darryl L. Forbes (@Darryl L. Forbes) 1625693853.0
I don’t know a conservative who believes our founding was perfect, or our founders above scrutiny. This is lazy dri… https://t.co/nUfsprfIsn— S.E. Cupp (@S.E. Cupp) 1625677708.0
As your former colleague, I KNOW you know better than this. Let’s teach the TRUTH about our founding. America’s fou… https://t.co/fvmi0RLhZn— Joe Walsh (@Joe Walsh) 1625664085.0
FFS. Even the strongest, most “patriotic” historians concede that the existence of slavery at the founding represen… https://t.co/aHtWRcWSKV— Robert A George 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇹🇹 (@Robert A George 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇹🇹) 1625679794.0
Some also felt pointed out the questionable grammar in Pompeo's tweet.
LOL. But also somebody please teach this man how to write a sentence. https://t.co/eisWTLu5k4— Jillian C. York 🏳️🌈 (@Jillian C. York 🏳️🌈) 1625666339.0
@mikepompeo It was flawed. The entire sentence structure of this tweet is as well. I’ll never get over uneducated… https://t.co/8Jz8HOvqG9— Kate Smith (@Kate Smith) 1625666958.0
@mikepompeo What if. We taught. About the use of commas.— A.R. Moxon (@A.R. Moxon) 1625660773.0
Should Pompeo run for America's highest political office in 2024, he's already created quite the uphill battle.
For many, it begins with properly constructed sentences.