Despite his own isolationist views, the first nominee for President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration clearly comes from the traditionalist wing of the Republican Party.
On Tuesday, President Trump officially announced that Rep. Michael Walz (R-Fla.) will become his national security adviser. According to people familiar with the matter, President Trump intends to nominate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for secretary of state.
Along with New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who is set to become ambassador to the United Nations, the trio is expected to promote a staunchly pro-Israel agenda.
Ukraine's defenders also feel some relief.
“Kiev is looking at this appointment with quiet relief. They clearly know there is room for involvement,” a source familiar with Ukraine operations told Fox News Digital. Moreover, after the Biden administration takes office, and is believed to be unduly afraid of escalating US involvement in the war with Russia, “a significant number of Ukrainian officials have expressed concern about what the change in pace will be.” I am cautiously optimistic that this will happen,” he added.
Walz once served as a counterterrorism adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney and is considered a hawk on China and Iran. He vocally opposed President Joe Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
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“What no one, including the current administration, can do for me is articulate a realistic counterterrorism plan without us being there,” Walz said in an interview days after the withdrawal. .
A former Army Green Beret officer and former CEO of a defense contractor says Trump is pushing for a bill that would block mass troop reductions in Afghanistan unless the Director of National Intelligence certifies that the Taliban are not aligned with al-Qaeda. It was introduced during the administration.
On Tuesday, President Trump officially announced the appointment of Congressman Michael Walz (R-Fla.) as his national security adviser. (John Nasion/Getty Images)
“I think we've come a long way and our leaders need to start saying to the American people, 'We're sorry. We don't have a choice. We're 15 years away from what's going to happen.' “I think it's going to be a war for generations because we're talking about crushing ideas,” Waltz said. said He spoke about Afghanistan at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference.
Walz voted in 2021 to maintain authorization for the Iraq war and against ending U.S. support for the Saudi war in Yemen.
Walz said in an interview with NPR last week that the war between Russia and Ukraine could end if the United States uses some influence.
Republican Rep. Mike Walz nominated as President Trump's National Security Adviser
Walz said that U.S. economic sanctions would quickly deplete Russia's “war machine” and that it would also “unshackle the long-range weapons it has provided to Ukraine.” Biden has long refused to allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to attack deep in Russia.
Last month, when Israel launched a counterattack against Iranian military targets, Walz lamented that it did not attack Iran's oil or nuclear facilities. “Have Biden/Harris again put pressure on Israel not to do more than necessary?” he asked.
Rubio, meanwhile, is a prominent hawk on China, Iran and Venezuela, and is instrumental in overthrowing dictator Nicolas Maduro.
Mr. Rubio at one point supported U.S. aid to Ukraine, but when the issue was brought up again earlier this year, Republican senators voted against the additional funding, citing insufficient border provisions. He was one of 15 people.
According to people familiar with the matter, President Trump intends to appoint Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) as secretary of state. (Joe Radle/Getty Images)
He has been a strong supporter of U.S. aid to Taiwan. When President Trump expressed concern about U.S. support for Taiwan and suggested that Taiwan should pay the U.S. for its defense, Rubio predicted that Trump would “continue to support Taiwan” if he regained the White House. did.
Like Trump, Walz and Rubio have criticized NATO allies for not spending enough on defense. Rubio argued that Europe should “take the lead” in defending itself, saying, “Germany, France and the United Kingdom are well equipped to manage their relationships with nuclear-armed belligerents in the East. But they will never be in the lead for very long.” Because they can rely on America. ”
Mr. Rubio last year co-sponsored a bill that would prevent the president from withdrawing the United States from NATO without Congressional approval, a precaution in case Mr. Trump were elected president and followed through on his repeated threats to abandon the alliance. It was seen as a measure.
His selection sparked a backlash from some Trump supporters who view him as too hawkish.
Walz and Rubio are expected to work with the next U.N. ambassador, Elise Stefanik, to promote a staunchly pro-Israel policy. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Apparently the SOS selection has not been made yet FYSA [for your situational awareness],” posted Anna Paulina Luna Congresswoman (R-Fla.) X late Monday night, when news outlets began reporting that President Trump had reconciled with Rubio.
libertarian comedian Dave Smith said on tuesday Rubio called it a “disaster.”
“Maybe we could give Liz Cheney the State Department,” Smith wrote. “That's a terrible sign.”
Steven Wertheim, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that Walz and Rubio are “above all demonstrating a hard-line stance against China, not just economically, but politically, militarily, and in ideological competition across the board.” Ta.
“This election raises questions about whether President Trump will follow through on his sometimes subdued foreign policy commitments, including his stated desire to quickly end the war in Ukraine and see Israel end the war,” he said. I have doubts.” “I'm having flashbacks to the first Trump administration.”
But he added, “Rubio is no longer the Rubio of 2016 that many remember.”
“Mr. Rubio appears to understand that the United States faces resource constraints and needs to set strategic priorities in an increasingly competitive world.”
And some restraint-minded thinkers express cautious optimism.
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“if [Rubio] Taking advantage of President Trump's approach, rather than pursuing his own agenda, could redefine the State Department's role in a way that is respected and effective overseas. Mr. Rubio knows his prospects are tied to his ability to carry out President Trump's policies, not his personal ambitions,” said Jason Beardsley, senior adviser to the United Veterans of America. .
“Having worked closely with Mr. Walz, I can assure you that he has a deep understanding of America's strategic priorities. We are passionate about ensuring national security without overextending the country.”
