Hillary Clinton Blasts Pentagon Shift as Mike Pompeo Surprisingly Agrees on Global Risks [WATCH]

Former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Mike Pompeo voiced concerns Wednesday that America’s adversaries could gain ground internationally as the Pentagon expands operations in the Western Hemisphere and reallocates resources away from other regions, as reported by Fox News.

Their remarks came during an event at Columbia University, where Clinton said she had heard of internal Pentagon conversations about moving toward a “spheres of influence” model.

According to Clinton, the model would prioritize U.S. military power in the Western Hemisphere, allow Russia greater control over Eastern Europe, and give China expanded influence in East Asia.

“There seems to be a group within the Pentagon who are advocating for these spheres of influence … I think that’s a disaster. And I think it weakens us vis-à-vis our principal problem, which is… the Chinese Communist Party,” she said.

The comments come as the Pentagon increases counter-narcotics and maritime security operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

The expanded presence marks the largest U.S. military footprint in the Southern Command region in decades, a shift that aligns with President Donald Trump’s emphasis on strengthening the Western Hemisphere.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Last week, the United States announced it would withdraw a rotational infantry brigade primarily based in Romania, with additional personnel operating in Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria.

In a statement to Fox News Digital responding to Clinton’s criticism, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said:

“Crooked Hillary is a globalist puppet who damaged America’s credibility on the world stage as Secretary of State and a failed presidential candidate. No one who is serious about putting America First should listen to her yapping. The Department is 100% focused on protecting the homeland, deterring China, and ushering in a new era of Peace Through Strength.”

Clinton, who helped shape the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia,” said a reduced focus on the Indo-Pacific would create instability and embolden U.S. competitors. Pompeo agreed with much of her assessment, stating that the United States should pursue global “American hegemony” and should not concede leadership to rival powers.

“I agree with almost everything Secretary Clinton said there,” Pompeo said. “I want American values to dominate the world for the next 250 years … I want to influence every sphere of influence.”

Despite the Pentagon’s increased attention on the Western Hemisphere, War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth has said U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific will be “stoutly defended.”

Pompeo issued particularly strong criticism of China, even as U.S.–China relations show signs of temporary stabilization following Trump’s recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“We shouldn’t use the word competition and the Chinese Communist Party in the same sentence… The Chinese Communist Party wants to cut our heads off,” Pompeo said.

He added, “They killed 10 million people and didn’t lose a moment’s sleep when a virus was foisted around the world.”

Pompeo, who served as both CIA director and secretary of state under Trump, also claimed China approved North Korea’s deployment of troops to support Russia in the war in Ukraine.

“There are 13,000 North Koreans on the ground inside of that conflict today,” he said. “They did not go there without Xi Jinping asking Chairman Kim… to go.”

Clinton criticized congressional Republicans for remaining silent on executive actions, citing Trump’s extensions of a deadline for TikTok to divest or face a U.S. ban.

“Their tongues must be totally bitten off because they don’t speak out,” she said.

She also warned that social media is shaping public opinion in ways that pose “a huge danger to democracy,” adding that TikTok was “found by a bipartisan decision of Congress to be controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.”

Pompeo shared similar concerns. “I’m worried about the fact that we’ve got social influencers on TikTok that are shaping your minds, and that that’s controlled by the Chinese Communist Party to a significant degree,” he said.

The appearance marked a rare point of agreement between the two former officials, who publicly clashed in previous years over Clinton’s emails and Pompeo’s criticism of her record, including Benghazi and corruption allegations.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.