"History will judge me" - What Pompeo taught me about responding to criticism
I asked Pompeo how he viewed the external criticism against him.
He didn't defend himself, nor did he retaliate. He simply said:
"History will judge me."
In 2021, I interviewed Pompeo shortly after he left office. At the time, he was arguably one of the most controversial figures in American politics – supporters praised his tough stance on China and his vocal support for Taiwan; opponents criticized him as hawkish and bellicose. Faced with overwhelming criticism, I asked him how he viewed these opinions. He didn't defend himself, nor did he retaliate. He simply said, calmly, "History will judge me."
This statement made me reflect for a long time.
It's not that Pompeo lacked the ability to debate; he graduated first in his class at West Point, holds a J.D. from Harvard, and served as CIA Director and the 70th US Secretary of State. In terms of eloquence and logic, he is undoubtedly a skilled debater. But he chose not to debate, and behind this "non-defense" lies immense wisdom and perspective.
In my work in policy public relations and corporate reputation management, the most common reactions are often the opposite. Many individuals or companies, when criticized, immediately want to retaliate, clarify, or even refute every accusation point by point. However, the result of doing so is often "the more you explain, the worse it gets." Because when you rush to respond to criticism, you are essentially accepting the battlefield set by the critic. The more you try to refute, the more you elevate that issue yourself, and the more you blur the focus.
Pompeo's "History will judge me" offers a completely different choice. This doesn't mean he doesn't care about judgment; rather, he has extended the timeline for judgment. He is betting that five or ten years from now, when history looks back, it will render a more objective and fair verdict, instead of dwelling on today's media headlines or online trends. When you entrust judgment to a longer period for precipitation, you don't need to be swayed by every immediate criticism. This composed attitude is not due to indifference, but because you have a firm judgment about what you are doing that transcends the short-term news cycle.
This kind of perspective applies equally to individuals and businesses. When a company faces public criticism, the greatest temptation is to react immediately and refute every point. However, truly strategic reputation management would be to clearly distinguish which criticisms are worth responding to and which should be left to time and facts to settle. Not every punch needs to be taken; sometimes, taking one can lead you by the nose, diverting you from the true trajectory of business development. Business operations are not individual acts; they require a mindset of facing and solving problems to lead the company to continuous growth, rather than being troubled by temporary criticism.
Perhaps Pompeo's calm demeanor is also related to his faith. He served as a deacon at a Presbyterian church from 2007 to 2009, teaching children, and is a devout Christian. Someone who believes that "history will judge" likely has a higher standard in their heart than worldly opinions, which allows him to view everything from a more macroscopic perspective.
It's worth noting that although Pompeo is regarded by the CCP as a "thorn in their side," his core argument is not simply anti-China. He emphasizes that the world should distinguish between the Chinese people and the Chinese Communist Party. He believes that the Chinese people are great, and the root of the problem lies in the rule of the Chinese Communist Party. This distinction also demonstrates his nuanced observation and strategic thinking in international politics.
When facing criticism, the most difficult thing is not to retaliate, but to restrain from retaliating. Pompeo used these eight words to demonstrate this wisdom to us – leave the current noise for others to quarrel over, and leave the final judgment to time to prove. This is not only a personal cultivation but also an important enlightenment for businesses to maintain strategic focus and achieve long-term development in a complex environment.