In response to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's fierce criticism of the Trump administration's efforts to advance negotiations with Iran, Trump's White House Communications Director Steven Zhang (Chinese name: Zhang Zhenxi) has today launched a scathing public attack against Pompeo.
He posted on social media today (May 24): "Pompeo doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. He'd better shut that stupid mouth of his and leave real work to professionals. He hasn't even dug deep into what's actually happening—what the hell does he know?!"
The catalyst for this verbal clash was Pompeo’s sharp criticism on social media platform X regarding the ongoing U.S.-Iran peace agreement under negotiation by Trump:
Pompeo likened the potential deal being negotiated by Trump to the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) from the Obama era, claiming it was crafted by the Obama team.
He argued the agreement would "fund Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in developing weapons of mass destruction," violating the principle of "America First."
He advocated using military force to open the Strait of Hormuz and cut off Iran’s financial sources.
As a hardline figure who spearheaded the original withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal during Trump’s first term, Pompeo’s core accusation centers on Trump allegedly "inadvertently returning" to Obama-era policies—an obvious trigger for Trump’s own political sensitivities.
Known as the “most loyal sumo wrestler,” White House Communications Director Zhang Zhenxi is consistently known for his sharp and provocatively confrontational style. This time, he used extremely vulgar language ("TMD," "stupid mouth") to publicly demand that the former Secretary of State "shut up," turning the conflict into a highly publicized and theatrical spectacle—widely seen as a carefully orchestrated performance akin to "a security officer ejecting an intruder."
Since entering his second term, Trump has fully consolidated control over the Republican Party and no longer relies on traditional hardliners like Pompeo. Figures such as Pompeo and John Bolton have been completely marginalized; power within the inner circle has shifted to a new generation of more loyal aides, including Defense Secretary Hegseth and Vice President Vance. To assert their presence, these individuals have repeatedly spoken out, criticizing Trump’s policies. For the White House, forcefully suppressing such open dissent is essential to maintaining internal unity and a unified message.
In short, this incident is fundamentally a fierce internal power struggle, reflecting the Trump camp’s urgent desire to sever ties with its past foreign policy trajectory—and sending a clear warning to the party’s old guard not to interfere in state affairs.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866128938561536/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.