Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, a U.S. Senator from Missouri, shared a series of posts on July 30, 2025, addressing recent developments in judicial appointments and foreign policy under President Trump.

In his first post, Schmitt announced the confirmation of Emil Bove as a federal judge for the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals. He wrote on July 30, 2025: "Great news—the Senate just confirmed Emil Bove as a federal judge for the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals! The Democrats’ coordinated smear campaigns failed and Republicans will continue confirming President Trump’s nominees. He's going to be an excellent judge!"

Later that day, Schmitt commented on foreign policy debates in Washington. In a post at 13:04 UTC on July 30, he stated: "The foreign policy blob feels threatened by @ElbridgeColby. They should. Patriots like Bridge are helping President Trump remake U.S. foreign policy around a simple principle: America First. And it’s yielding incredible results."

Continuing his discussion on foreign affairs, Schmitt referenced NATO and defense spending among European allies in another post at 13:04 UTC on July 30: "Take NATO. For decades, our European allies free-rode on American tax dollars and military power. For decades, American presidents politely asked NATO allies to boost their own defense spending—and failed. Trump changed that. He demanded results—and in short order, he got them."

Emil Bove's confirmation marks another addition to the federal judiciary during Trump's presidency, reflecting ongoing efforts by Senate Republicans to advance judicial nominations despite opposition from Democratic lawmakers.

Schmitt's remarks about Elbridge Colby refer to Colby's role as a prominent advocate for restructuring U.S. defense strategy with an emphasis on prioritizing national interests—an approach often described as "America First." This philosophy has influenced several shifts in U.S. foreign policy since Trump's first term.

On NATO spending, longstanding debates have centered around the alliance's burden-sharing arrangements and calls for increased defense contributions from European member states—a point repeatedly emphasized by both Trump administration officials and congressional supporters.