Several Republican presidential hopefuls have answered Tucker Carlson’s questions, pressing their stance on the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Last week, the Fox News host challenged the already-declared candidates, as well as several Republicans who have been clamoring to enter the 2024 race, to answer the question: Is confronting Russia in Ukraine a vital American national strategic interest? What exactly is our goal in Ukraine, and how will we know when we have achieved it? What is the limit of funding and material that you would be willing to send to the Ukrainian government? Should the United States support regime change in Russia? Given that Russia’s economy and currency are stronger than before the war, do you think the US sanctions have been effective? Do you think the United States is at risk of nuclear war with Russia?
Two of the three presidential nominees, former President Trump and activist Vivek Ramaswamy, responded to Carlson’s inquiry, as did former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (South Carolina). Senator Tim Scott and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley was the only presidential candidate who did not respond to Carlson’s questioning. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, all of whom have indicated a possible White House bid, also did not respond to inquiries. Former National Security Adviser John Bolton declined to comment.
Former President Trump responds to Tucker Carlson. (Fox News)
Is confronting Russia in Ukraine a vital American strategic national interest?
Trump said: “No, but it’s for Europe,” adding that European allies “should pay a lot more than us, or the same.” DeSantis told Carlson, “While the United States has many vital national interests … further entanglement in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them.” Declaring the “major external threat” to the US, Noem, instead of Russia, said the war in Ukraine “must be Europe’s fight, not ours.” Ramaswamy argues that it is not essential to oppose Russia, insisting that US energy independence is essential, and insists that if Europe had relied more on the US for oil and gas instead of Russia, the invasion may not have happened.
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Meanwhile, Pence invoked the “Reagan Doctrine” to prevent direct American involvement in deterring enemies on its shores, telling Carlson: “There is no room in the Republican Party for Putin’s apology. This is not America’s war, but if Putin doesn’t stop. and Ukraine’s the sovereign nation is not being restored quickly, it will continue to move towards our NATO allies, and America would be asked to send ours.’
Scott says it is a vital national interest to degrade Russia’s military. Christie also says that “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a national security issue that threatens our alliances and our standing in the world”, adding that “Russia’s ally China is waging a proxy war against the United States” and “it would be “. naive not to call this a Chinese attack.”
Abbott did not specifically answer this question.
Former Vice President Mike Pence’s response to Tucker Carlson. (Fox News)
What exactly is our goal in Ukraine, and how will we know when we have achieved it?
Trump said the goal is to “help and secure Europe, but Europe isn’t helping itself,” and told Carlson that it’s “very unfair” that the U.S. is largely footing the bill, especially since Europe is “taking advantage of us on trade and other things.” .” DeSantis said the goal is “peace,” while Pence told Carlson that the goal is “victory for Ukraine” and regaining its sovereignty. Christie also said the goal is to “support Ukraine enough to defeat Russian forces and regain their sovereignty.”
Ramaswamy said the goal is to “respect all the legal treaties that the United States has entered into,” referring to the Budapest Memorandum that established Ukraine’s sovereignty. However, he added that the US has achieved a goal by portraying Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “paper tiger” because of his weak military capabilities, and two prominent goals will be to distract Putin from future attacks and encourage Europeans to “take care of themselves”. “
Noem did not specify what the Ukrainian goal is, but told Carlson, “If we had a president who sought peace through force, Putin would never have dared to invade Ukraine.” Neither Abbott nor Scott outlined specific targets.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ response to Tucker Carlson. (Fox News)
What is the limit of funding and material that you would be willing to send to the Ukrainian government?
DeSantis told Carlson that the U.S. “should not support the deployment of American troops or help Ukraine engage in offensive operations beyond its borders,” adding that providing F-16s and long-range missiles would be “off the table.” He also said: “Our citizens have a right to know how billions of US taxpayer dollars are being spent in Ukraine.”
Ramaswamy said he would “limit no further funding or aid to Ukraine” as president, adding that European allies “must do more, much more – it’s their backyard, it’s their borders.” Noem said, “We should not waste taxpayer dollars risking nuclear war,” adding, “We have already gone too far in our deployment to Ukraine.”
Trump said meeting Putin would be “very dependent” but insisted that “Europe has to pay.”
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Pence said he did not support sending a “blank check” but warned that “withholding or cutting aid will have consequences” and that “the cost will be much higher” if Putin invades NATO allies. Abbott blasted President Biden’s “blank check foreign policy,” telling Carlson, “Throwing money into Ukraine without accountability or purpose is clearly failing.” “Before (Biden) sends any more money or goods to the Ukrainian border, he needs to enforce our immigration laws and secure our southern border,” he added.
Scott called for “accountability for every dollar spent,” and told Carlson there would be no “blank check” in that situation. Christie did not mention whether there are funding and material constraints, but said: “It is up to us to help defend our democratic allies against authoritarian attacks.”
Author and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy’s response to Tucker Carlson. (Fox News)
Should the United States support regime change in Russia?
Trump and Ramaswamy said “No.” Noem replied “Not at this time”, warning of possible destabilization of Europe and nuclear escalation. DeSantis said the policy of regime change was “popular among DC foreign policy interventionists” and suggested that Putin’s successor would “probably be even more ruthless.” Pence responded by suggesting that the question should be asked of the Russian people.
Christie said helping Ukraine “is not about regime change in Russia; it’s about respecting the sovereignty of free nations.”
Scott did not answer this question.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott responds to Tucker Carlson. (Fox News)
Given that Russia’s economy and currency are stronger than before the war, do you think the US sanctions have been effective?
Trump replied: “No, they have not been effective. Quite the opposite.” Ramaswamy also answered “clearly no,” saying, “Russia is stronger because of higher oil and gas revenues due to higher prices.”
DeSantis said the Biden administration’s policies have “pushed Russia into a de facto alliance with China” and that since China has not complied with any embargo, “Russia has increased foreign income while China benefits from cheaper fuel.” Noem said the US has “relied too much on financial sanctions as a deterrent weapon”, adding that “sanctions against China, Iran and Russia have strengthened the Russian ruble and allowed China to establish trade in Chinese currency rather than US dollars”.
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Meanwhile, Pence dismissed the premise of the question, telling Carlson that “Russia’s economy and currency are no stronger than before the war.” He insisted that Russia’s economy is in “free fall” and its ruble is “still in tatters” because of the very expensive measures Russia has taken to keep the currency at pre-war levels in the face of sanctions. He also added that Russia is “protecting China” and without its help, “Putin could run out of money by 2024.”
Abbott, Scott and Christie did not respond to this question.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem responds to Tucker Carlson. (Fox News)
Do you think the United States is at risk of nuclear war with Russia?
Trump responded, “It depends on who the president of the United States is,” but that he is “absolutely” a risk under President Biden. Noem also blasted the Biden administration for “moving us up the ladder quickly with some provocative actions and statements,” adding, “We’re closer to the use of tactical nuclear weapons than we are now.”
DeSantis warned that increased US involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war “would risk bringing the US directly into the conflict and bringing it closer to a hot war between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.”
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Ramaswamy told Carlson that the risk of nuclear war grows “when China starts backing up to Russia.” He called on the US to give up “negotiating leverage” because Russia has “brazenly violated all nuclear arms control treaties” and added that “the global defense establishment must pull its head out of the sand and respect China, which is not limited by a nuclear arms treaty, is secretly building up its nuclear stockpile.”
Pence called Putin a “little, bully leader of Russia,” said his nuclear threats were a “bullying tactic,” but insisted the U.S. “will not be bullied.”
Abbott, Scott and Christie did not specifically address this question.
The full answer to Tucker Carlson’s quiz from 2024 GOP hopefuls can be found on the “Tucker Carlson Tonight” Twitter account.
Joseph A. Wulfsohn is a media reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips to joseph.wulfsohn@fox.com and on Twitter: @JosephWulfsohn.