The next is a transcript of an interview with Sen. Invoice Hagerty, Republican of Tennessee, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Nov. 10, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we flip now to Tennessee Republican Senator Invoice Hagerty, who additionally served as US Ambassador to Japan–
SEN. BILL HAGERTY: –Sure Margaret
MARGARET BRENNAN: In the course of the first Trump administration. It is good to have you ever right here.
SEN. HAGERTY: It is good to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Donald Trump has this sweeping mandate, as do Republicans. Do you see this as an unrestrained presidency?
SEN. HAGERTY: I believe it is a presidency that has a mandate like we have not seen, as you talked about, in 36 years. The American public has spoken loud and clear. And I believe should you return to your interview with Bob, there are a selection of locations the place Washington has been out of contact with the American individuals. You talked about Ukraine, I believe that is a fantastic instance. The American individuals need sovereignty protected right here in America earlier than we spend our funds and assets defending the sovereignty of one other nation. You concentrate on it, we have despatched $175 billion of U.S. assist to Ukraine. That is greater than thrice your entire annual finances of the U.S. Marine Corps. I have been one of many few senators in america Senate who has voted and has opposed each cent of this Ukraine assist. I have been listening to the American individuals. We have to concentrate on our personal points first. And I’ve taken plenty of warmth over it, from Mitch McConnell from the Wall Road Journal, however that is what the American individuals spoke up and need us to do. We should always by no means have been in Ukraine. It is a results of failed insurance policies, failed vitality insurance policies, the failure in Afghanistan–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –there is not any U.S. presence in Ukraine
SEN. HAGERTY: No however our funds. I am speaking concerning the huge quantity of funds, once more, $175 billion. That is an incredible quantity, as I stated, greater than thrice the finances of the U.S. Marine Corps. The American individuals need to concentrate on fixing our issues right here, and with the borders collapse, with crime within the cities, we have got to concentrate to America.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So does that imply simply cuts to U.S. navy assist to all international locations?
SEN. HAGERTY: What it means is that we have to take a really deliberate concentrate on America first. However we should be main from a place of energy, Margaret. As I stated, we might not be on this place. Now what we have now is an administration that is permitting Russia to promote at a $60 a barrel cap. The argument they make that reduces Russia’s earnings. What it does really, is it subsidizes China to compete once more, unfairly towards us, with an vitality value benefit. And we hold Vladimir Putin totally funding this conflict in Ukraine. We have to cease that. We have to return to producing our personal vitality and take Russia out. Apparently, apparently, I am going to name this the Trump impact. However simply up to now 72 hours, what we have seen is the EU say, “Possibly we should always change Russian LNG with U.S. LNG. You’ve got seen in New York Metropolis–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Properly that is been talked about for some time–
SEN. HAGERTY: We’re not going to subject debit playing cards to unlawful immigrants anymore. Migrant caravans are being damaged up under the border and rotated. The UK has stated we’ll step our protection finances as much as about 2.5% all since President Trump was elected
MARGARET BRENNAN: A few of that was- was in course of already, however let me ask you particularly on Ukraine. So Hungary’s Prime Minister has stated that Donald Trump has advised him he’ll minimize off assist to Ukraine. You’re saying right here, I believe, within the new Congress, there will probably be no extra assist to Ukraine.
SEN. HAGERTY: I’ve definitely not voted for any assist.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know you have not, however is that the mandate?
SEN. HAGARTY: And I believe President Trump will find- President Trump will discover a method to cope with this. I am not going to get forward of him. I am sure that he’ll discover a method to navigate this that is within the curiosity of the American individuals and can cease the carnage. Look what’s occurred in Ukraine is horrible. Persons are dying. They proceed to die. However we have to cease this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However here is the factor, we are also seeing this alignment of like an axis of adversaries, proper? You have got Iranian gear, you have got Chinese language gear–
SEN. HAGARTY: — Deeply regarding, yes–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. You have got North Korean personnel on the battlefield. So this concept that Ukraine is in some way divorced from the remainder of geopolitics would not appear to be bearing out. It is of deep concern to a few of our Asian allies, Japan, South Korea. So how are you going to have the ability to do that with out complicating the chess board?
SEN. HAGARTY: Properly, I believe it is turn out to be difficult as a result of America has not been standing able of energy. The reason being that Russia has been totally funded due to the insurance policies that enable them to promote vitality–
MARGARET BRENNAN: – on Russia whether or not or not they’re–
SEN. HAGARTY: Iran we had them shut down. Iran was broke, whether or not or not they’re now they’re in a position to fund terror all around the world, we had a most strain –
MARGARET BRENNAN: – Partly as a result of they’ve all these different adversaries that they are doing enterprise with, proper? China –
SEN. HAGERTY: They weren’t in a position to try this underneath the Trump administration. That is why we noticed peace breaking out within the Center East. With out Iran being shut down, which is what we did underneath the utmost strain marketing campaign. President Trump led this. We’re in a position to transfer our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Everyone stated it could not occur. It did the Abraham Accords. Peace was breaking out within the Center East as a result of Iran couldn’t fund terror. As quickly because the Biden administration got here in, they stopped enforcing–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — There have been assaults by Iran in the course of the Trump administration–
SEN. HAGERTY: — Nothing to the extent that we have seen here–
MARGARET BRENNAN: And the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, however on the Center East. Israel’s Prime Minister stated this morning that he spoke to President Trump thrice in current days, they usually mentioned Iran they usually mentioned a peace plan. Are you aware what the content material of these conversations was?
SEN. HAGERTY: No, and if I did, I would not focus on them right here, as a result of that needs to be navigated very rigorously.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, one of many causes I ask is we do have this this mid-November deadline that the State Division- the Pentagon have set for Israel to enhance the movement of assist to Gaza’s two million residents. The UN says there may be famine already, or on the verge of famine. Whether it is discovered that Israel is certainly violating. U.S. legislation, would you maintain them accountable? Ought to there be penalties? As a result of they’re recipients of U.S. assist.
SEN. HAGERTY: Properly I’ve had big disagreements with this administration by way of how they’ve administered their complete coverage –
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that is U.S. legislation, it is not simply this administration. It is humanitarian legislation.
SEN. HAGERTY: I believe what we have seen simply get away once more up to now 70 plus hours since President Trump gained the election, Hamas is now in search of complete peace. So I believe the surroundings has completely modified.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What do you imply?
SEN. HAGERTY: They’ve introduced they’d prefer to see peace. They prefer to see peace in Gaza. Let’s examine the place that–
MARGARET BRENNAN: You suspect- you consider that there will probably be a hostage deal negotiated underneath President Trump?
SEN. HAGERTY: I might prefer to see what, I might prefer to see what Hamas means by this assertion. However evidently your entire surroundings is shifting proper now–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Yeah–
SEN. HAGERTY: — As a result of they see new management coming in. And I am inspired by that, and I believe we’ll have new alternatives to, once more, President Trump was in a position to ship peace by means of energy. I believe that is on the best way, and I am optimistic what it would result in.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, one of many fascinating dynamics we noticed on this election was that Mr. Trump was in a position to, in some methods, efficiently marketing campaign and peel off Muslim voters, Arab voters, definitely within the state of Michigan, you noticed a few of that. Do you think- they usually had been annoyed by the carnage in Gaza. In consequence, do you assume Mr. Trump finally ends up with extra wiggle room right here to maybe maintain the Israeli prime minister to account, or does he simply give a inexperienced mild?
SEN. HAGERTY: I believe what President Trump goes to do is concentrate on the basis trigger. To borrow a time period that was used a fantastic deal within the final administration. He’ll concentrate on Iran as a result of the reason for that is the Iranian funding and coaching of Hamas, of Hezbollah, of the Houthis. That may have by no means happened–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — however by way of —
SEN. HAGERTY: — Apart from the truth that they released- the enforcement of sanctions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Upholding worldwide legislation and U.S. authorized requirements to recipients of US navy assist, do you assume he’ll stick by that?
SEN. HAGERTY: President Trump is definitely going to uphold U.S. legislation, however he’s additionally going to make sure that our allies are correctly cared for and that our adversaries are handled accordingly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, I haven’t got to inform you this, as a result of Asia rather well, however 5 of America’s seven treaty commitments are in that Asia-Pacific. The U.S. has publicity there in an incredible manner. The final time Donald Trump was president, he talked about pulling US troops out of Japan, pulling them out of South Korea. Is {that a} precedence now, lowering the navy footprint in Asia?
SEN. HAGERTY: I believe that comes again once more to the failure of the elite right here in Washington, Margaret, to know how a enterprise particular person negotiates. Everyone has received to take a seat down and discuss what the choices are. We’ve got been supporting navy presence in that space ever since World Warfare Two, ever because the Korean Warfare. A big funding on behalf of the American individuals. These investments had been made at a time when these economies had been collapsed. They had been growing international locations as we speak. They’re totally developed international locations. It is solely related, and I believe applicable for President Trump to debate throughout the stage of support–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — However by way of signaling energy, saying we’d ditch our allies is not precisely a constructive message, proper?
SEN. HAGERTY: I believe the message ought to be that our allies can and may step as much as the extent potential. To strengthen their very own capabilities. We’re seeing it occur. We’re seeing it occur in Japan, they’ve agreed to double their protection finances from 1% to 2% of GDP. That is a constructive growth. They’re making an attempt to work extra intently with us. I believe in President Trump’s administration, they positively will. That is the course that we have to go. Identical for South Korea.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Earlier than I allow you to go. You’re on quite a lot of highly effective Senate Committees. Do you assume you are extra helpful to Mr. Trump within the Senate, or would you be a part of his cupboard if requested?
SEN. HAGERTY: I am going to simply say this, I used to be privileged to have an incredible profession in enterprise, however one of many biggest honors in my life was to symbolize america, the best nation on this planet, in President Trump’s administration abroad. It is also been one of many biggest honors in my life to symbolize the individuals of Tennessee, serving america Senate. In no matter position I maintain going- going ahead, it should be superior. It will be advancing the positions that President Trump has articulated, that the American individuals overwhelmingly supported, and I am going to do this in no matter position crucial, however we’re going to see America sturdy once more.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Hagerty, thanks on your time.
SEN. HAGERTY: Thanks a lot, Margaret.
