Meet the Press interviews during 2019: on Foreign Policy


Pete Buttigieg: Restore U.S. credibility by leading world on big challenges

My focus will be restoring U.S. credibility by pulling together in the name of American values, that our country at its best has upheld and advanced but are also universal shared values. The U.S. could be restoring our credibility by leading the world in facing some of the biggest challenges we have, from issues like climate to stability in the global economy, to advancing human rights and democracy, to things like dealing with terrorist threats.
Source: Meet the Press interview for 2019 Democratic primary Aug 25, 2019

Donald Trump: Not looking for war, but Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon

Q: Do you want to do a separate deal with Iran? Or do you want to get everybody involved in the same deal?

TRUMP: It doesn't matter to me. Here's what I want, anything that gets you to the result. They cannot have a nuclear weapon. It's not about the straits. You know, a lot of people covered it incorrectly. They're never mentioned. They cannot have a nuclear weapon. They'd use it. And they're not going to have a nuclear weapon. And it's not about the oil. I'm not looking for war and if there is, it'll be obliteration like you've never seen before. But I'm not looking to do that. But you can't have a nuclear weapon. You want to talk? Good. Otherwise you can have a bad economy for the next three years.

Source: Meet the Press 2019 interview series Jun 23, 2019

Pete Buttigieg: Regional & global allies have interest in Middle East peace

Our allies in the Middle East are going to be concerned with their own security. We need to make sure that we have tensions deescalate, rather than escalate, when it comes to what's going on there. It's not only allies in the region, but allies across the globe who have an interest in stopping any pathway toward the Middle East becoming any more violent, any more unstable than it already is.
Source: Meet the Press 2019 interview series Jun 16, 2019

Pete Buttigieg: Work with allies in region & elsewhere on Middle East

Our allies in the Middle East are going to be concerned, first and foremost, with their own security. We need to make sure that we have tensions deescalate, rather than escalate, when it comes to what's going on there. It's not only allies in the region, but allies across the globe who have an interest in stopping any pathway toward the Middle East becoming any more violent, any more unstable than it already is.
Source: NBC News Meet the Press 2019 interview Jun 16, 2019

Bernie Sanders: Even-handed Mideast policy; open to moving Jerusalem embassy

Q: Would you move embassy out of Jerusalem, if you thought it was a way to get a peace deal?

A: I can't give you a definitive answer, but yeah. Whether it is Iran and Saudi Arabia, whether it is Israel and the Palestinians, the United States needs to bring people together, needs an even handed policy. We'll take that one step at a time. We are the most-powerful country on Earth. Let's bring people together and try to bring peace.

Source: Meet the Press 2019 interview of 2020 presidential hopefuls May 19, 2019

Bernie Sanders: Must support human rights, even with trading partners

Q: What about relations abroad?

A: Donald Trump supports authoritarian governments all over the world. I believe we have to support democracy and human rights. I think we have to deal with trade issues. But I think it should be known that we cannot allow -- we have to stand up and oppose, governments that are doing terrible things to minorities.

Q: Are humanitarian reasons enough to use military force?

A: It depends. Obviously, you have to look at case by case.

Source: Meet the Press 2019 interview of 2020 presidential hopefuls May 19, 2019

Amy Klobuchar: Military an option in Venezuela, but focus on diplomacy

Right now, it's our problem, in that we need to push for humanitarian aid. We need to make sure that, I'm glad we have recognized who should be president here, Guaido. And I'm also glad that we're trying to push Maduro out. But the answer here is to make sure that we are working with our allies, pushing for democracy and some kind of a negotiated agreement. Military should always be on the table, but I don't see that we use it now.
Source: Meet the Press 2019 interview of presidential hopefuls Mar 17, 2019

  • The above quotations are from Meet the Press interviews during 2019
    (Chuck Todd interviewing candidates for 2019-2020 races).
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Foreign Policy.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Cory Booker on Foreign Policy.
  • Click here for more quotes by Chris Christie on Foreign Policy.
2020 Presidential contenders on Foreign Policy:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Jan 12, 2020