In “Never Give An Inch,” Pompeo recounts a March 26 call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, one day after the secretary of state
that China had “repeatedly delayed” sharing information about the virus and engaged in a “disinformation campaign.”
According to Pompeo, who listened in to the call,
Xi told Trump that his cabinet member was jeopardizing the trade deal that the principals had just agreed to. Pompeo believed that Xi was trying to get Trump to fire him — “
My Mike, that fucking guy hates you!” the president said after the call — and a few days later, in the Oval Office, Trump told Pompeo that he was “
putting us all at risk” by angering Xi, in part because the United States still needed protective health equipment from China.
“
Stop, for God’s sake!” said the president.