Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vowed Wednesday that if elected president, he’d slash the navy finances by half.
“I’ll push for [a] 50% discount in navy expenditures in my first 4 years in workplace, with extra cuts to return thereafter,” Kennedy mentioned. “A method to preserve the greenback robust is to maintain the nation robust. We can do this by redirecting our bloated navy finances towards infrastructure, schooling and well being and constructing our economic system and constructing small enterprise”
Speaking the day earlier than President Biden signed a safety settlement with Ukraine, Kennedy instructed voters in Yorba Linda, Calif., that U.S. overseas coverage has been based mostly on the “delusion” that American intervention overseas will uphold democracy.
Citing billion-dollar help packages which have been authorised for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, Kennedy mentioned he needs to roll again protection spending to the degrees final seen below President Eisenhower. Seizing on the loss of life of Joseph Stalin in 1953, Eisenhower believed he had a gap to avert an arms conflict with Russia and thought dramatically slicing protection spending would help the trigger. He did keep away from main conflicts, however the Cold War nonetheless intensified throughout his presidency.
Kennedy additionally faulted the U.S. for — in his view — escalating battle overseas over the previous few many years. He has beforehand mentioned he doesn’t help extra navy help for Ukraine, although he stands by Israel, calling the Russia-Ukraine battle a “conflict of selection” and the Israel-Hamas battle a “ethical conflict.”
“We created ISIS,” Kennedy instructed voters Wednesday night time, referring to the brutal terrorist group that grew out of the remnants of al Qaeda in Iraq and unfold throughout the Middle East in 2014. “We drove 4 million immigrants up into Europe and destabilized all of the Western democracies of Europe for generations.”
Kennedy advised that the U.S. take a web page out of China’s ebook. He mentioned the nation has emerged as a world superpower by utilizing its finances extra successfully, investing in infrastructure and companies in locations like Africa and South America, moderately than beefing up its navy presence.
“They spent $8 trillion on bridges, roads, airports and faculties and hospitals,” Kennedy mentioned. “Our perpetually wars made us enemies throughout the globe — left us bankrupt at dwelling. China’s investments, in distinction, made pals throughout the globe and introduced it affect in each nook of the Earth.”
Where does Kennedy stand on Ukraine?
Kennedy has rejected any U.S. involvement in Ukraine, together with sending navy help, and instructed reporters at a marketing campaign rally on Long Island in late April that he blames Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for issuing a decree making it “illegal in Ukraine to barter with President Putin.”
“[Putin] doesn’t know what dignity and honesty are. Therefore, we’re prepared for a dialogue with Russia, however with one other president of Russia,” Zelenskyy mentioned in October 2022, after Putin annexed 4 Ukrainian territories, which world leaders condemned as an unlawful land seize.
In an interview with Twins Pod in early April, Kennedy appeared to reward the Russian chief for what in his view had been the Russian chief’s pacifist intentions, “Putin mentioned, ‘Look I do not need to go into Crimea. Let’s negotiate a peace.'”
Two years in the past, Putin undertook an invasion of Ukraine to maintain it from making frequent trigger with western democracies, thereby posing a menace to his rule in Russia.
Kennedy has additionally repeated the Russian president’s claims that he undertook the invasion to maintain NATO out of Ukraine and “de-Nazify” the nation.
Mr. Biden has likened Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to Hitler’s Nazi forces invading different European nations. On Thursday, the leaders of the Group of Seven nations agreed to offer Ukraine with a $50 billion mortgage amid the continued conflict.
Where does Kennedy stand on Israel?
Kennedy has been a staunch supporter of Israel, typically telling reporters that he believes Israel has the suitable to defend itself in opposition to Hamas following the bloodbath that passed off on Oct. 7, 2023. Though the U.S. and western powers have referred to as for restraint from Israel when attacking the Gaza Strip, Kennedy instructed Reuters {that a} cease-fire would solely permit Hamas to rearm.
Kennedy’s operating mate, Nicole Shanahan, mentioned she disagrees with the impartial candidate on this entrance. Israel’s response to Hamas’ assault is a subject that results in “heated debate” between the 2, Shanahan mentioned throughout a podcast final week with host Glenn Greenwald.
“And what I see proper now taking place on the bottom in Gaza, is devastating. I feel that, you understand, there’s arguments to be made, that we’re long gone the purpose of a cease-fire,” Shanahan mentioned. “I feel there’s a number of arguments to be made that Israel ought to be exhibiting extra restraint.”
