Eric K. Ward
Ward is executive vice president of Race Forward, a senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the only American to receive the Civil Courage Prize.
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USA Today
36 minutes ago
- USA Today
Trump's rebuke of MAGA isolationists is smart foreign policy. We must stop Iran.
Trump's rebuke of MAGA isolationists is smart foreign policy. We must stop Iran. | Opinion Trump's approach to the Middle East has been very competent. He has stood by Israel, continued to position the United States against Iran, and has not taken American military action off the table. Show Caption Hide Caption Trump teases possible strike on Iran but says it's not too late for deal "I may do it. I may not do it." President Trump teased a possible strike on Iran but also said it is not too late to negotiate. President Trump rebuked Tucker Carlson's isolationist stance on the Middle East. Trump remains firm on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump's actions have distanced him from isolationist figures like Carlson and Gabbard. President Donald Trump on June 16 called out fired Fox News host Tucker Carlson by his new nickname, 'kooky Tucker Carlson,' who has called Trump "complicit" in Israel's strikes against Iran. Trump also emphasized that 'Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.' Carlson represents a faction on the right that is against American involvement in the Middle East, regardless of our interests. Despite his rhetorical embrace of these voices during his third presidential campaign, Trump's approach to the Middle East has been very competent. He has stood by Israel, continued to position the United States against Iran and has not taken American military action off the table. One of my chief concerns about a second Trump presidency was that he was embracing voices like Carlson and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. But Trump's latest rebuke of the isolationist right is a welcome turn of events, and it improves my view of him as president. Opinion: Israel's successful attack on Iran is proof American support is worth the money Trump's stances on Iran have been commendable Trump has been unwavering in his stance that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon, and he has held the line against any compromise that allows them to enrich uranium. While he initially pushed for a diplomatic resolution, it is clear that Iranian leaders will not willingly sign a deal that prevents their continued enrichment programs. Whether Trump signed off on the Israeli strikes or not remains up for debate, but Trump has had no problem taking credit regardless and has said it's almost too late for negotiation. Opinion: Trump must back Israel against Iran. 'Kooky' Carlson is wrong about nuclear threat. Trump's approach to Israel in his second term has been nothing short of stellar, and the fact that he has been consistent on this issue is rather remarkable considering how he has changed his mind in so many other areas. Trump's willingness to keep all options on the table in the Middle East marks a parting of ways from the isolationists who helped to shape his reelection campaign. MAGA isolationists got played by Trump's 'America First' approach The isolationist right thought they had a hero in Trump, but they really just fell for a campaign strategy. Isolationists thought they could mold Trump into their dream candidate, one who lets the happenings of the world go on without American intervention, regardless of our interests in the matter. They were wrong. Many chalked up Trump's first term peace-through-strength foreign policy to the establishment Republicans advising him, and thought that his America First movement could be co-opted to meet their isolationist dream. It turns out that Trump still understands the value of America's influence abroad, at least in some regards. Carlson has been one of the chief skeptics of America's relationship with Israel on the right, often even dipping into the very antisemitic tactics that he used to denounce. Trump has been asked about Carlson plenty in recent days, and the president has been dismissive of his viewpoints. Another such figure is Gabbard, whose appointment to be the director of national intelligence rightfully worried conservatives. Gabbard recently has been warning that we are 'closer to the brink of nuclear annihilation than ever before' (which is ridiculous on its face), and suggesting that pro-interventionists are apparently fine with this because "they will have access to nuclear shelters for themselves and for their families.' This type of fearmongering represents nothing more than an effort to influence the Trump administration back into her camp. Trump also rejected some of Gabbard's assessments of the Iran situation, telling reporters that 'I don't care what she said, I think they were very close to having" an Iranian nuke. He continues to put American interests above the views of these fringe isolationist voices, and I am pleasantly surprised that he is. The isolationists do not have a true foreign policy ally in Trump. His second term has been reassuring to conservatives who feared the worst. Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
US Ally Reveals Chinese Military Activity Near American Base
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China has reportedly dispatched naval vessels to waters near a United States air base in South Korea, as the East Asian power continues to expand its military presence in the contested region. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters South Korea—a U.S. ally that hosts American forces—created the Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) in the Yellow Sea, where Seoul and Beijing's 230-mile-wide Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) overlap, as the two countries have yet to establish permanent maritime boundaries. China has recently expanded its military presence in the disputed waters of the Yellow Sea, including repeated deployment of warships and the declaration of "no-sail zones" for war games, raising South Korea's concerns that its neighbor is attempting to alter the status quo. What To Know Citing South Korean military data provided to a lawmaker on Tuesday, newspaper Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the Chinese navy deployed ships to "South Korean-controlled waters" in the Yellow Sea approximately 170 times between January and May. Chinese vessels—equipped with surveillance systems—reportedly sailed within 37 miles of South Korea's territorial waters west of Eocheong Island several times. Waters extending up to 13.8 miles from the coast are considered under South Korean sovereignty. The Yellow Sea island lies approximately 37 miles from Kunsan Air Base—the home station of the U.S. Air Force's Eighth Fighter Wing—on South Korea's west coast. This places the distance between the base and the Chinese navy's operating location at 88 miles. "The presence of these sensor-equipped ships suggests that China is likely engaged in some level of intelligence-gathering," a South Korean defense official said, according to the report. This was the first time South Korea's military has confirmed that Chinese ships operating in the area were equipped with "sea surveillance radars and other reconnaissance technology." United States fighter jets taxi at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea on December 3, 2017. United States fighter jets taxi at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea on December 3, 2017. Senior Airman Colby L. Hardin/U.S. Air Force via Getty Images The Chinese vessels operating near South Korea are reportedly capable of spying from "hundreds of miles" away, enabling them to monitor flight operations, signal transmissions, and electronic communications at Kunsan Air Base. What People Are Saying A South Korean defense official said, according to Korea JoongAng Daily: "While it is difficult to officially assess the intent of another country's military activities, it is presumed that China is seeking to expand its regional influence." Shin Beom-chul, senior researcher at the Sejong Institute in South Korea, told Korea JoongAng Daily: "It's possible that China is using this as an opportunity to test its expanded naval power, strengthened through its Belt and Road Initiative, and may be targeting U.S. military bases near the Yellow Sea." What Happens Next It remains to be seen how South Korea and the U.S. will respond to China's growing naval presence in the Yellow Sea, as they remain preoccupied with countering North Korea's threats.
an hour ago
Hundreds gather to remember slain Minnesota lawmaker and husband
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Hundreds of people, some clutching candles or carrying flowers to lay in front of a memorial, gathered outside Minnesota's Capitol on Wednesday evening for a vigil to remember a prominent state lawmaker and her husband who were gunned down at their home. As a brass quintet from the Minnesota Orchestra played, Gov. Tim Walz wiped away tears and comforted attendees at the gathering for former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs. Colin Hortman, the Hortmans' son, embraced Walz and lay a photo of his parents on the memorial. The memorial, which sprang up outside the Capitol after the killings, features flowers, American flags, photos and sticky notes with such messages as, 'Thank you for always believing in me and in Minnesota' and 'We got this from here. Thank you for everything.' Wednesday's vigil also included a Native American drum circle, a string quartet and the crowd singing 'Amazing Grace.' Around the gathering, there was a heavy police presence, with law enforcement blocking off streets leading up to the Capitol and state troopers standing guard. The event didn't include a speaking program and attendees were instructed not to bring signs of any kind. The man charged in federal and state court with killing the Hortmans, Vance Boelter, is also accused of shooting another Democratic lawmaker, Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, at their home a few miles away in Champlin. They survived and are recovering. Federal prosecutors have declined to speculate about a motive. Boelter's attorneys have declined to comment on the charges. Hortman had served as the top House Democratic leader since 2017, and six years as speaker, starting in 2019. Under a power-sharing deal after the 2024 election left the House tied, her title became speaker emerita and Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth became speaker. Walz has described Hortman as his closest political ally and 'the most consequential Speaker in state history.' The Hortmans were alumni of the University of Minnesota, which held a midday memorial gathering on the Minneapolis campus. Rebecca Cunningham, the university's president, spoke during the event about the grief and outrage people are grappling with along with questions about how things got to this point. 'I don't have the answers to these questions but I know that finding answers starts with the coming together in community as we are today,' she said.
