CNN "State of the Union" interviews during 2019: on Foreign Policy
Andrew Yang:
US should lead the way on climate change
The U.S. is vital to building an international consensus on climate change. We need to act first because, by forming the table and saying who's with us on this, we can galvanize dozens of our allies and partners in the Western world.
The U.S. has always been a global leader. We are still the focal point of the world's economy. And if we lead on this, then we can move people in the right direction very quickly.
Source: Climate Crisis Town Hall (CNN 2019 Democratic primary)
Sep 4, 2019
Beto O`Rourke:
Let Puerto Rico determine its own future
We need to make sure for the people of Puerto Rico can determine their future. Now whether that is independence, whether they want to remain a territory or whether that is statehood with two U.S. senators who can go to town for them in the U.S.
Congress to bring down the resources that they need. We need to support the people of Puerto Rico.
Source: Climate Crisis Town Hall (CNN 2019 Democratic primary)
Sep 4, 2019
Amy Klobuchar:
Diplomacy with North Korea not easy; we need clear focus
Of course, we want to see a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a reduction in these missiles. But it is not as easy as just going and bringing a hot dish over the fence to the dictator next door. This is a ruthless dictator.
You have to have clear focus and a clear mission and clear goals. The president will meet with him. That is fine. But then we have no clear path and nothing comes out of it.
Source: CNN "SOTU" 2019 interview series
Jun 30, 2019
Amy Klobuchar:
Talking to North Korea good, working with allies better
We want to see a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a reduction in these missiles. But it is not as easy as just going and bringing a hot dish over the fence to the dictator next door. You have to have clear focus and a clear mission and clear
goals. It is always good to talk to people when you're dealing with something so important as nuclear weapons. But then we have no clear path and nothing comes out of it. I would think working with our allies would make it better.
Source: CNN State of the Union 2019 interview
Jun 30, 2019
Julian Castro:
No preparation is why North Korea talks have done little
I'm always for speaking to our adversaries. A lot of staff work goes into preparing a meeting like this, so that concrete terms are on the table and you can get something out of the meeting. North Korea has not abided by what it promised,
which was to produce an inventory of their weapons stockpile, so that there could be a baseline for further talks. I'm not quite sure why this president is so bent on elevating a dictator. It has been a failure so far.
Source: CNN State of the Union 2019 interview
Jun 30, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Isolationism is not right way for us to go
Ever since the Iraq War, it's been difficult for the Democratic Party to feel out what we believe the limits, the boundaries and the basis of foreign policy can be. We were so horrified by the wrong steps taken toward Iraq some felt pushed in the
direction of isolationism, which I don't think is the right way for us to go. Now is a moment that we establish a new set of foundations for how American values, American interests, and American relationships are going to interact with each other.
Source: CNN "SOTU" 2019 interview series
Jun 16, 2019
Kamala Harris:
US stronger when working with allies
Q: What do you think of Trump's foreign relations?A: Part of the failure is that this president and administration have failed to understand that we are stronger when we work with our allies on every issue, China included.
Q: China is an ally?
A: No, meaning working with our allies to address China, in terms of the threat that it presents. This president has a preference for conducting policy by tweet.
It is a display of a president who thinks that unilateral action is better than working with friends. It puts us in a weaker position.
Source: CNN SOTU 2019 interview of presidential hopefuls
May 12, 2019
Cory Booker:
Support our allies, not our enemies
Of course, I will meet with our enemies, but I will meet with them under the right conditions, using every bit of leverage I have to focus in on the goal, articulating a strategy for getting there.
Our allies are beginning to question our commitment to fundamental democratic values when you have a president that seems to buddy up with Chairman Kim or Duterte or Putin more than friends, people that are critical allies we need in our trade deals.
Source: CNN SOTU 2019 interview of presidential hopefuls
May 5, 2019
John Delaney:
Don't believe Putin about Russian 2016 election interference
Delaney slammed the Trump administration when he was asked about Russian interference in the 2016 election. "I believe them over Putin, so I will start with that," Delaney said when asked about Russian intervention in the 2016 election.
Former FBI acting director Andrew McCabe said in an interview with 60 Minutes that Trump dismissed the intelligence agencies' finding of the threat posed by
North Korea's missiles by saying, "I don't care. I believe Putin."
Trump has said in 2018 that he holds Putin responsible for election meddling,
but he has also attacked the intelligence community and undercut their findings.
Source: CNN KFile on 2019 SXSW conference in Austin
Mar 11, 2019
Tulsi Gabbard:
Defends meeting Syria's Assad; supports Trump on North Korea
Q: You met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during that trip to Syria in 2017...A: It continues to be very important for any leader in this country to be willing to meet with others, whether they be friends or adversaries or potential
adversaries, if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country. It's why I have urged and continue to urge President Trump to meet with people like Kim Jong-un in North Korea, because we understand what's at stake here.
Source: CNN 2019 "State of the Union" on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Jan 20, 2019
Page last updated: Jan 12, 2020