Secretary of State Mike Pompeo promotes the Bible and his evangelical Christian identity in a major speech outlining the Trump administration’s Middle East policy.

In a major speech delivered at the American University in Cairo, Pompeo promoted his evangelical Christian identity while attacking former President Barack Obama’s foreign policy in the Middle East.

Pompeo opened his speech by reminding his audience in Egypt, a majority Muslim country, that he is a Bible-thumping, evangelical Christian. Pompeo told his Muslim audience:

This trip is especially meaningful for me as an evangelical Christian…

Pompeo added:

This is an important time. We’re all children of Abraham: Christians, Muslims, Jews.

Pompeo also thought it important to note that he keeps a Bible open at all times:

In my office, I keep a Bible open on my desk to remind me of God and His Word, and The Truth.

Commenting on the capitalization in the phrase “to remind me of God and His Word, and The Truth” The New Yorker notes:

The State Department transcript provided this capitalization.

Reporting on Pompeo’s Cairo speech, The Guardian notes:

In his visit to Egypt, he (Pompeo) came across as much as a preacher as a diplomat. He talked about “America’s innate goodness” and marveled at a newly built cathedral as “a stunning testament to the Lord’s hand”.

Pompeo’s reference to his own Christian belief is obnoxious and alarming, but not surprising. Pompeo is known for wearing his conservative Christian faith on his sleeve. Previously Trump’s top diplomat has promoted the idea of Holy War and the rapture, even going so far as to tell a congregation of conservative Christians:

We will continue to fight these battles, it is a never ending struggle… until the Rapture.

Commenting on Pompeo’s radical religious beliefs, Andrew Chesnut, professor of religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University said

Many of them relish the second coming because for them it means eternal life in heaven. There is a palpable danger that people in high position who subscribe to these beliefs will be readier to take us into a conflict that brings on Armageddon.

As for evangelical Christian values, The New Yorker notes:

Missing from the speech was any reference to protecting human rights or democracy…

Bottom line: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo promotes the Bible and his evangelical Christian identity while delivering a major foreign policy speech in Cairo, Egypt.