Foreign policy differences with fellow Republicans could complicate things if Trump wins
Foreign policy differences with fellow Republicans could complicate things if Trump wins
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00:00And he's overseas. Former president and Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump is a populist isolationist and a transactional soul who would easily scuttle America's long-held military and economic alliances if such relationships do not translate favorably to America's business interests or well-being.
00:18Hence the issues of aid to Ukraine, support for Taiwan, tariff policy on China could well split and complicate matters within this party if Trump succeeds on a return to the White House.
00:30Beways Catherine Gipson reports.
00:34Former President Donald Trump meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month.
00:41No president has done what I've done for Israel and we've always had a very good relationship.
00:47Trump has previously criticized Netanyahu for security failures he claims enabled the October 7th Hamas attack.
00:56Unpredictability was a hallmark of Trump's foreign policy while in office.
01:01One analyst told VOA the Republican Party's 2024 foreign policy platform reflects that.
01:09There are not a ton of specifics that gives him the advantage of being able to shape a policy in a way that he sees fit in the moment rather than getting locked into policies at the outset of a term.
01:28Trump's fellow Republicans claim the social media app TikTok is controlled by the Chinese government and can be used to access user information and influence political beliefs.
01:40I do not want the Chinese Communist Party getting personal data about our citizens nor being able to have algorithms that would propagandize the American public.
01:50But Trump reversed his position on banning TikTok this year.
01:54We're going to save TikTok. They want to destroy TikTok. So all the people on TikTok vote for Trump.
02:00Trump has also criticized NATO claiming member countries do not pay their fair share for the common defense.
02:07His running mate Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance has been even more critical of the United States sending aid money to Ukraine.
02:16But let's not mistake the courage of the Ukrainian troops on the ground with the fact that they have the most corrupt leadership and corrupt government in Europe and maybe the most corrupt leadership anywhere in the world.
02:28That is in direct opposition to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has argued aid to Ukraine is essential to defending democracy in Europe.
02:38It's no longer a settled question that America will meet aggression with overwhelming force or even that will back our allies 100 percent.
02:48Analysts say Trump's calls to raise tariffs if he is elected to a second term could cause the most conflict with Republican lawmakers.
02:58It shows the transformation of the Republican Party since 2016 because the Republicans historically have been free traders.
03:10Trump has pledged to introduce at least 60 percent tariffs on China and 10 percent tariffs on imports from other countries if he is re-elected.
03:21Katherine Gibson, VOA News.