Nikki Haley Vows to stand with Israel “every step of the way.” She promised to “destroy” Iran’s economy. She also called for continued funding for Ukraine to help repel Russia’s invasion.
“It’s a dangerous world right now,” Haley told Republican primary voters gathered inside American Legion Post No. 7 in New Hampshire as a new war breaks out in the Middle East. “It’s going to get messier before it gets better.”
Less than 24 hours later, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Tell New Hampshire business leaders that the United States should stop funding Ukraine until there is a clear strategy. He is more concerned about what he sees as the threat posed by foreigners at the U.S.-Mexico border. He said Israel had the right to defend itself.
“I don’t think we need to do much militarily,” DeSantis said of the war between Israel and Hamas. “We may have to provide some additional support as we have traditionally done, but I think it’s just a clear moral statement of, ‘They don’t have to live like this.'”
As a presidential election long centered on domestic dinner table issues suddenly shifts its focus abroad, Republican candidates for the White House are sending conflicting messages about growing foreign policy challenges. The rapidly evolving dynamics are testing the limits of the Republican Party’s shift toward an isolationist foreign policy and threaten to undermine the party’s broader argument for a Democratic president. Joe Biden The United States has mismanaged its relations with the rest of the world.
Republican primary voters in New Hampshire last week posed foreign policy questions to Republican presidential candidates, and they’re hungry for better answers.
“This dire international situation is calling for voices of reason. Former New Hampshire Attorney General Tom Rath attended DeSantis’ speech at St. Anselm College on Friday. He held a hearing in which the first three questions he raised focused on foreign policy.
The Republican Party’s Transformation
The battle is a stark reminder of how the Republican Party has moved away from more traditional Republicans like Rath over the past two decades. Former President George W. Bush, whose administration was largely defined by his defeat in the Iraq war, recently described himself as “some kind of hardliner.”In the video obtained AxiosHe said the Biden administration’s response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas “is off to a good start.”
But under former President Donald Trump’s With the Republican leadership, the party has significantly retreated from its long-standing support for a hard-line foreign policy. For example, according to AP VoteCast, 56% of Republican voters in last fall’s midterm elections said the United States should take a less active role in international affairs.
Haley, a former Trump ambassador to the United Nations, has become the face of Republican conservatives, calling for an “end” to Hamas and an aggressive response to Israel’s enemies, including Iran. On the other hand, among her 2024 rivals, DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, backed by conservative media personality Tucker Carlson, favor a more cautious “U.S. priority” policy.
As the front-runner in the Republican primary, Trump confused the issue Inconsistent information due to personal dissatisfaction.
In a rambling speech last week, Trump said the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahubefore “let us down” In 2020, the United States killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Trump also said Israeli leaders needed to “step up the effort,” calling Hezbollah “very smart” and saying Israel was worried Hezbollah might launch a large-scale attack from the north of the country. Trump said Netanyahu was “not ready” in interview aired Thursday Hamas invades from Gaza.
On Sunday, Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-R.C., said Trump should not criticize Israel’s foreign minister at this time.
“This is a huge mistake,” Graham said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “If I were President Trump, I would talk about being the most powerful president of Israel in modern times.”
Trump’s team ended the week in damage control mode, issuing a statement highlighting his past support for Israel. Trump himself has joined in the action, insisting the attack would not have happened if he had won the 2020 election and praising Israeli soldiers.
“I have always been impressed by the skill and determination of the Israel Defense Forces. I wish every soldier the best of luck as they defend their country from ruthless terrorists. May you return safely to your families, may God Bless you!” Trump wrote on his Truth social network.
Meanwhile, some Republican primary voters don’t like what they’re hearing from their party’s presidential candidates.
“Now more than ever, I need a strong leader in the White House. Biden is not it. Trump is not it,” said Michele Woonton, 58, a retired nurse who attended last week DeSantis made an appearance at the New Hampshire State Capitol.
Winton, who said she would consider voting for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if Trump wins the Republican nomination, was particularly disturbed by Trump’s initial response to the Israeli attack.
“We don’t need people who can’t control their emotions,” Winton said. “I’m not saying he’s not a good president. But he’s so immature. … That’s not the kind of leader we need in a time of war.”
Bruce Wilson, a 76-year-old Army veteran from Alton, said he would like to see the Republican Party take a tougher approach on foreign affairs and return to its roots. He expressed regret over the impact of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement on multiple issues.
“The party got into bed (with Trump) and now they’re suffering the consequences,” said Wilson, who attended Haley’s town hall meeting at the American Legion. “I would like to see a leader with more conviction.”
The next day at St. Anselm College, Republican state Rep. Dave Lundgren, who supports DeSantis, said he, too, was worried about the Republican Party moving toward isolationism.
“I think we need to go in and beat people,” he said of the U.S. response to Hamas attacks on Israel, suggesting that U.S. special forces step in to at least help rescue kidnapped Americans. “The Republican Party is weak right now, and we need a strong leader to help get us back to No. 1 in the world. We’ve been there before. We’re not there now.”
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Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York and AP Polling Director Emily Swanson in Washington contributed to this report.
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