Trump appointing officials aligned with 'America First' foreign policy stance – NYT
The incoming US president is said to be contemplating former ‘neocons’ Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Michael Walz for roles within the administration. Read Full Article at RT.com
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The US president-elect is reportedly considering former ‘neocons’ Marco Rubio and Michael Waltz for government positions.
According to the New York Times, President-elect Donald Trump is selecting members of his foreign policy team based on their loyalty to the concept of ‘America First’ and their ability to prioritize national interests over ideological positions. The newspaper previously indicated that Trump was considering Florida Senator Marco Rubio for the role of secretary of state and Congressman Michael Waltz as the national security adviser.
Both Rubio and Waltz have previously articulated foreign policy views that might be classified as neoconservative. However, in recent years, their stances have realigned more closely with Trump’s ‘America First’ ideology. The paper claims that “Trump may end up with a foreign policy team composed of deep loyalists, but with roots in familiar Republican approaches.”
Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that Rubio, one of three candidates being considered for the US Department of State, is likely to support Trump's alleged plan to press Ukraine into reaching a peace agreement with Russia while abandoning its aspirations to join NATO. Initially a strong proponent of US military assistance for Ukraine, the senator has recently voiced concerns about Washington's role in the ongoing conflict, calling for “common sense.” Last month, he stated during an NBC News interview that the US was essentially funding a “stalemate war” that needs to be “brought to a conclusion” before Ukraine faces being “set back a hundred years.”
Waltz, a former Green Beret, had previously advocated for increased US support for Ukraine against Russia. However, he changed his stance earlier this year when he voted against a significant aid package for Ukraine, arguing that the Biden administration had not clearly defined the “American objective in Ukraine” or its strategy to achieve it.
The congressman has also echoed Trump’s criticisms of Washington's NATO allies, rebuking member countries for failing to meet their defense spending commitments. According to the NYT, both Waltz and Rubio could play an “influential role” in shaping future US relations with Beijing, as they are proponents of a more hardline economic approach toward China.
Trump has yet to make a public statement regarding the potential composition of his future cabinet.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to the New York Times, President-elect Donald Trump is selecting members of his foreign policy team based on their loyalty to the concept of ‘America First’ and their ability to prioritize national interests over ideological positions. The newspaper previously indicated that Trump was considering Florida Senator Marco Rubio for the role of secretary of state and Congressman Michael Waltz as the national security adviser.
Both Rubio and Waltz have previously articulated foreign policy views that might be classified as neoconservative. However, in recent years, their stances have realigned more closely with Trump’s ‘America First’ ideology. The paper claims that “Trump may end up with a foreign policy team composed of deep loyalists, but with roots in familiar Republican approaches.”
Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that Rubio, one of three candidates being considered for the US Department of State, is likely to support Trump's alleged plan to press Ukraine into reaching a peace agreement with Russia while abandoning its aspirations to join NATO. Initially a strong proponent of US military assistance for Ukraine, the senator has recently voiced concerns about Washington's role in the ongoing conflict, calling for “common sense.” Last month, he stated during an NBC News interview that the US was essentially funding a “stalemate war” that needs to be “brought to a conclusion” before Ukraine faces being “set back a hundred years.”
Waltz, a former Green Beret, had previously advocated for increased US support for Ukraine against Russia. However, he changed his stance earlier this year when he voted against a significant aid package for Ukraine, arguing that the Biden administration had not clearly defined the “American objective in Ukraine” or its strategy to achieve it.
The congressman has also echoed Trump’s criticisms of Washington's NATO allies, rebuking member countries for failing to meet their defense spending commitments. According to the NYT, both Waltz and Rubio could play an “influential role” in shaping future US relations with Beijing, as they are proponents of a more hardline economic approach toward China.
Trump has yet to make a public statement regarding the potential composition of his future cabinet.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
