Columbia News

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) appeared on Fox Business’ Kudlow to discuss recent developments involving President Trump’s Middle East peace deal and the ongoing government shutdown, which he attributed to Senate Democrats.

Speaking about President Trump’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, Schmitt said, “It’s remarkable and I think that [President Trump] is cementing his place in history as the ‘peace president’. That was always President Trump’s north star, which is to seek diplomacy first. I think you’re seeing a rebirth of American realism with this President — in that you see the world as it is, and you understand what our core national interests are. We’re not going to get spread too far and too wide. We can’t be everywhere all at once all the time. That’s why Europe is now stepping up in a much more meaningful way. We are focused on the homeland, and we understand the civilization threat that China is — this competing rival we have across the pacific. And when you can, intervene peacefully and through diplomacy to solve conflicts — that’s an appropriate role for American leadership. President Trump has done that time and time again. Whether Azerbaijan and Armenia, or Pakistan and India, or now with this exchange of hostages. Now they still have to get to the governance, but [President Trump] set a framework here — that’s really built on the Abraham Accords of his first term — that’s not based completely on political dynamics but also economic realities and cooperation that can hopefully stand the test of time.”

Schmitt continued by highlighting what he sees as Trump’s successful instincts regarding foreign policy: “Yeah, [President Trump] has innate instincts here that are right. The globalists have been betting against President Trump for a long time now — we’re kind of a decade into this. And just think of the difference between the first term when President Trump was talking to the Europeans about stepping up to 5 percent of the GDP from the national defense and they mocked him. But now, they are doing it because they understand now the importance of that. President Trump is a singular political figure — I think the most consequential president we’ve had in generations in this country. This is just sort of another notch on the belt here of a serious person with great accomplishments.”

He also commented on international perceptions: “I agree and I see President Trump around a lot of these leaders, and he’s got a magnetic personality. And by the way, winning begets more winning. America is back and people see it, they want to be around it, and they know it’s a good thing for the rest of the world, too.”

Addressing what he referred to as “Schumer’s Shutdown,” Schmitt said: “We’re getting there. We’re starting week three of the Schumer Shutdown and it’s totally irrational, Larry. There’s really not anything they really want. They will certainly talk about other things, but their offer on the table is $1.5 trillion worth of spending, $5 billion for all these crazy programs in USAID that we defunded through the recissions package. They want healthcare for illegal immigrants. That is what they’re offering. But this is about fighting Trump, so that’s why it’s not a rational discussion. We’ll see what happens this week, but as far as what the government is going to do, the President has made clear and Russ Vought made clear what their priorities are. Which is they are going to make sure military members, going to make sure law enforcement gets paid. And if we get a little bit further down the road, there’s going to have to be decisions made because the government is just running out of money. The Republicans have offered a clean [continuing resolution], which is usually the exit ramp here. And the Democrats keep saying no. They are way more interested in grandstanding than governing. That’s the truth.”

Schmitt concluded by criticizing Democratic leadership: “They don’t have another play in the playbook. They really don’t and it hasn’t worked for them. The American people rejected this before and we saw everything unfold.They don’t have another play.They are leaderless; they don’t have a message.All they can do is [say] ‘Orange man bad’, nonsense,’No Kings rally’. It is so ridiculous people are tired of it.”