Former President Donald Trump hinted Monday that he would bring three big-name national security experts into his administration if he is elected as the 47th chief executive next month.
Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt gently poked Trump in an interview about whether Republican candidates would bring back former acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell and former national security adviser Robert O'Brien. , added Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).
“Oh, a lot of people you like will come, won't you?” Trump Reaction to being teased. “I can tell you the names of all the people you like, and I like the same people. So you have those people and you'll have more.”
Trump, 78, did not name any specific national security roles, but did name former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as a possible candidate to return.
“Lighthizer, I had a lot of great people, I had a lot of great people,” he later added.
“I know good people, I know smart people. I know dummies. I know weak people. I know people,” Trump added. “Remember, when I got there, I was a developer from New York. I took a crash course. And I have great people. We have great talent, you know? .”
During his first administration, Trump reveled in the mix of foreign policy hawks and doves that surrounded him.
According to Transition Co-Chairman Howard Lutnick, one of the key prerequisites for a hypothetical President Trump to serve a second term is loyalty.
“Those people weren't pure about his vision,” Lutnick said. Reflected in the Financial Times Monday about former Trump administration officials who resigned during his first term, including former chief of staff John Kelly and former defense secretary James Mattis.
Lutnick insisted it would be different next time.
“Everybody's going to be on the same side, everybody's going to understand the policy, and we're going to give people roles based on their ability and their allegiance or loyalty to the policy. Regarding.”
israel and iran
Trump also touched on the situation in the Middle East and the conflict between Israel and Iran during a wide-ranging interview with Hewitt on Monday.
“If Israel attacks them, [Iran’s] Everyone at the nuclear facility, could you please clap? ” asked Hewitt.
“Yes, I have dealt with it. [North Koraen dictator] Mr. Kim Jong-un. And he has nuclear weapons. And when they have nuclear weapons, they tend to say it a little differently,” Trump responded.
The Republican candidate also acknowledged in recent polls that he is in a tight race with Vice President Kamala Harris among Arab Americans as he grapples with progressive internal conflict over the Israel-Hamas war.
“I want to see everything go well. I want peace. I don't want to see people killed. I want peace, and they know it. And the Jews know it. And both sides like it, and they know I can get peace,” Trump suggested.
“There was no war with Trump. People don't realize that. I took over ISIS and I destroyed ISIS,” he added. “There were some real generals there.”
