President-elect Donald Trump’s CIA chief pick Mike Pompeo was once forced to apologise to political opponent after ‘turban-topper’ race row

THE man incoming US President Donald Trump has chosen as CIA chief once called a political opponent a “turban topper”.

Republican Mike Pompeo, 52, had to apologise to Raj Goyle after his campaign to become a Congressman in 2010 tweeted an article which said the Indian-American “could be a Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist etc who knows”.

Pompeo personally called Mr Goyle, who accepted his apology, and blamed the tweet on a “communications error”.

But Mr Goyle said: “I think it is fair to say that I was very shocked and surprised to read that my opponent’s official campaign Twitter feed promoted such hateful and vile language.”

Mr Trump, 70, has confirmed Mr Pompeo will become America’s chief spy, despite the controversy.

Mr Pompeo said he was “honoured and humbled to accept the President-elect’s nomination to lead the CIA”.

Outgoing President Barack Obama was in Berlin alongside Theresa May and other European leaders yesterday.

The PM called for sanctions on Russia over Syria and condemned the “atrocities” in Aleppo.

She said: “We agree on the need to keep up the pressure on Russia.”