Nashville Standard

United States Senator Bill Hagerty appeared on CBS's Face the Nation to discuss President Trump's recent election victory and its implications for American foreign policy. Hagerty, a former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described the election as providing a significant mandate for Trump.

Hagerty expressed his views on U.S. aid to Ukraine, emphasizing domestic priorities over international involvement. "I think this is a presidency that has a mandate like we haven’t seen, as you mentioned, in 36 years," he stated. He criticized past policies regarding Ukraine, highlighting the substantial financial aid provided and suggesting it was more than three times the annual budget of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Discussing future aid to Ukraine, Hagerty remained firm in his opposition: "I’ve certainly not voted for any aid, and I think President Trump will find […] a way to deal with this." He acknowledged the tragic situation in Ukraine but stressed prioritizing American interests.

On global complexities, Hagerty pointed out that America had not been operating from a position of strength due to certain energy policies allowing Russia and Iran to benefit financially. He credited Trump's previous administration with enforcing sanctions that curtailed Iranian activities: "We had them shut down [under the Trump Administration]. Iran was broke."

Regarding peace prospects in the Middle East under Trump's leadership, Hagerty noted recent developments since Trump's election win: "...in the past 70 plus hours since President Trump won the election, Hamas is now looking for total peace." He expressed optimism about new opportunities arising from potential changes in leadership dynamics.

Hagerty also addressed discussions about reducing U.S. military presence in Asia by encouraging allies like Japan and South Korea to enhance their defense capabilities independently: "It’s entirely relevant and I think appropriate for President Trump to discuss within the level of support."