Nashville Standard

United States Senator Bill Hagerty, a Republican from Tennessee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, appeared on Fox News' "America’s Newsroom" to discuss the foreign policy achievements of President Donald Trump during his initial week in office. He also emphasized the importance of confirming Trump's cabinet nominees.

Senator Hagerty highlighted the need for fair trade practices, stating, “If you think about the tariff situation worldwide, the United States has been treated unfairly for years. President Trump has constantly and consistently talked about reciprocity.” He pointed out that historically favorable trade terms granted to certain countries should have been limited over time. Hagerty asserted that access to the U.S. economy is a privilege and noted Trump's approach in dealing with nations like Colombia.

On pausing funding within the State Department, Hagerty remarked, “These are all very legitimate and reasonable questions to ask, Martha." He mentioned previous rapid fund allocations by the State Department to organizations not aligned with U.S. interests. He supported Secretary Marco Rubio's decision to pause such funding and called for ensuring taxpayer dollars advance America's interests.

Regarding Trump's cabinet nominees, Hagerty expressed optimism about their confirmation process: “I actually feel very good about how the nominees are moving through the process.” He credited Senator John Thune for facilitating this progress despite Democratic opposition.

Hagerty concluded by emphasizing President Trump's right to select his cabinet members: “President Trump is entitled to his nominees." He urged Republicans to support Trump's choices given the challenges facing the nation.