While President Donald Trump worked late to finalize a last‑minute peace and denuclearization deal with Iran, members of his inner circle publicly attacked critics they said were undermining those efforts or improperly using classified access. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sen. Ted Cruz drew sharp rebukes on X from White House communications director Steven Cheung, deputy counterterrorism adviser Sebastian Gorka and outside adviser Alex Bruesewitz.
Cheung called Pompeo’s comments “stupid” in a Saturday night post, saying Pompeo was not “read into anything that’s happening” and accusing him of talking without full knowledge. Pompeo had warned the proposed agreement resembled an Obama‑era approach, accusing negotiators of effectively “paying the IRGC to build a WMD program” and branding the deal “not remotely America First.”
Pompeo urged tougher measures, saying the U.S. should reopen the Strait of Hormuz, deny Iran access to funds and degrade Iranian capabilities so they cannot threaten regional allies. The exchanges underscore tensions inside conservative circles as the administration pursued a high‑stakes diplomatic push.