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MILWAUKEE — U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul isn’t giving up hope {that a} second Donald Trump presidency will help Ukraine in its struggle towards Russia, even after Sen. J.D. Vance, a vocal Ukraine assist critic and outspoken isolationist, was nominated to the vice presidency.
Vance’s choice as operating mate units up some potential stress between a future Trump administration and the congressional protection hawks like McCaul, who performed a position in securing Ukraine assist final April. Vance has been skeptical of sustained assist for U.S. allies overseas and voted towards continued help for Ukraine, together with the help package deal McCaul advocated.
Each are cornerstone priorities for McCaul, an Austin Republican who chairs the Home International Affairs Committee. McCaul mentioned he’s “a little” involved Vance may portend larger withdrawal by the US on the world stage, however he isn’t dropping by the wayside simply but.
McCaul mentioned he’s nonetheless in contact with Trump’s international coverage staff, which expands past Vance and consists of aides who’re devoted to defending American pursuits abroad.
“I don’t think he wants to be a loser,” McCaul mentioned of Trump on the sidelines of the Nationwide Republican Conference. “To Trump, that’s a big thing. And if Putin takes over Ukraine, the United States loses.”
McCaul has been a steadfast supporter of aiding U.S. allies towards rising threats from Russia, China and Iran, together with Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. He’s a part of a dwindling era of pro-defense Republicans who used to dominate Texas’ affect on nationwide politics, from former Home Appropriations Chair Kay Granger to former President George W. Bush.
McCaul made appeals to Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, to help the Ukraine assist package deal. Johnson ultimately backed the package deal regardless of having previous misgivings about persevering with assist to Ukraine.
In the meantime, Vance mentioned on the Munich Safety Convention this yr that Europe ought to put together for the U.S. transferring to “pivot” away from the continent.
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“The American security blanket has allowed European security to atrophy,” Vance mentioned.
“I believed in the propaganda of the George W. Bush administration that we needed to invade Iraq, that it was a war for freedom and democracy,” Vance mentioned on the Senate ground in April. “The promises of the foreign-policy establishment of this country were a complete joke.”
Vance mentioned on a 2022 podcast that “I gotta be sincere with you, I do not actually care what occurs to Ukraine a technique or one other.”
Trump has bemoaned that NATO allies don’t spend extra on their widespread protection. However he additionally acknowledged that Ukraine’s survival is necessary for U.S. pursuits.
“As everyone agrees, Ukrainian Survival and Strength should be much more important to Europe than to us, but it is also important to us!” Trump posted on social media in April. “GET MOVING EUROPE!”
McCaul acknowledged that “it’s not popular to look outside the United States” and acknowledged Vance’s place as “trying to stand for the common man, the working man. That’s always what Trump has done.”
“I think their overall messaging is, we’re tired of paying for it. And I think that resonates,” McCaul mentioned. “What they want is assurances we’re not gonna be footing the bill for everybody’s conflict, but it is getting more dangerous.”
McCaul suggested Trump on his 2016 presidential marketing campaign on international coverage. Previous to main the International Affairs Committee, McCaul served as the highest Republican on the Home Homeland Safety Committee.
He mentioned he’s nonetheless in contact with members of Trump’s staff and that there are a number of of Trump’s prime advisers who really feel {that a} sturdy American presence is important. He named former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who served with McCaul within the Home, former Nationwide Safety Adviser Robert O’Brien and former Nationwide Safety Adviser to the Vice President Keith Kellogg.
“It really depends who the president puts around himself,” McCaul mentioned. “He likes to have differences of opinion and likes to throw them in the ring and let them fight it out.”
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Massive information: director and screenwriter Richard Linklater; NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher; U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-California; and Luci Baines Johnson will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Competition, Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Purchase tickets right this moment!
