State of Missouri Archives: on Foreign Policy
Dave Schatz:
Putin a bully; deserves a bloody nose for Ukraine invasion
Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz was early in condemning Putin, tweeting four minutes later: "The only thing a bully respects is
a bloody nose--for an unprovoked attack on a free people, Putin deserves one. These actions must not be tolerated."
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Feb 25, 2022
Eric Schmitt:
First AG to sue China for "unleashing the coronavirus"
During Trump's Presidency, Eric took the lead on backing up the Administration's policies. Eric was the first Attorney General to sue
China to hold them accountable for unleashing the coronavirus on Americans.
Source: 2021 Missouri Senate campaign website SchmittForSenate.com
May 2, 2021
Jason Kander:
Supports Iranian nuclear deal
Q: On Iran: Support the US-Iran treaty that limits Iran's nuclear capability in return for lifting economic sanctions?Blunt: No
Kander: No
Q: On Iraq: Should the US recommit significant additional ground troops to Iraq to combat the success of
ISIS?
Blunt: Will not rule out sending ground troops to Iraq, "if there is an end goal in mind."
Kander: Only as last resort. Supports engaging "militarily, economically, and even on the Internet"
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Missouri Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
Lester Turilli:
We are inherently different from other nations
Q: Your comments on the statement, "Support American Exceptionalism"? A: The United States is inherently different from other nations through its formation and foundation. The rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness are unique to our
country. America should continue to set the example for democracy and freedom for the rest of the world. The USA is a nation that should lead not follow. I am a supporter of the U.S. Constitution and the original intentions of the founding fathers.
Source: Email interview on 2016 Missouri candidacy by OnTheIssues
Apr 25, 2016
Roy Blunt:
Friends no longer trust us; our enemies aren't afraid of us
Q: What are the most important challenges facing the U.S. in foreign relations?Roy Blunt: After eight years of the Obama administration's failed foreign policy agenda, our friends no longer trust us and our enemies aren't afraid of us in
a world that is more dangerous than it has ever been. Whether it's the Iran deal, the rise of ISIS or Russian aggression, a strong United States is the only answer to counter the growing threats we face.
Source: LWV's Vote411.org on 2016 Missouri Senate Race
Sep 19, 2016
Vicky Hartzler:
Criticism led to being sanctioned by Chinese Communist Party
?As a member of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, she confronted China's human rights abuses, persecution of Christians, and long before the pandemic, pushed to bring production of life-sustaining medicines back to America.
She voted to stop federal government loans to China, and introduced legislation to stop China's misuse of student visas. The Chinese Communist Party view Vicky as such a threat to their regime they have sanctioned her.
Source: 2021 Missouri Senate campaign website VickyHartzler.com
Jul 9, 2021
Trudy Busch Valentine:
Disallow farmland ownership by Communist China
Asked about banning foreign ownership of farmland, both Libertarian Party candidate Jonathan Dine and Constitution Party candidate Paul Venable say they would oppose the idea. Valentine highlighted [Republican opponent Eric] Schmitt's 2013 vote in the
state Senate to allow Missouri farmland to be owned by a foreign entity.Before that vote, foreign ownership of Missouri farmland was banned. Soon after the ban was lifted, a Chinese company purchased Smithfield Foods and its 40,000 acres of Missouri
farmland.
China was a key flashpoint in the GOP U.S. Senate primary, with all six major candidates jockeying for position in a party that has adopted former President Donald Trump's hard line against China as gospel.
Valentine echoed the criticism of Schmitt on Friday. "Eric Schmitt allowed thousands of acres of farmland to be sold to Communist China," Valentine said. "And that's just plain wrong."
Source: St. Louis Public Radio on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Sep 17, 2022
Mike Kehoe:
Response to Ukraine: Russia does not share our values
The "Missouri Stands with Ukraine" initiative, a twofold response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine began with the introduction of HB2913, filed by Rep. Plocher, which prohibits state entities and private businesses from contracting with Russia,
Russian entities, or any other country currently occupying or attacking a NATO ally. The second half of the initiative encourages Missouri retailers to consider voluntarily removing Russian-made or Russian branded products from store shelves,
and replacing them with USA-made and Missouri-made products.
"This initiative is in response to Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine," said Kehoe. "The message we want to send is simple: Russia does not share our values and Russian businesses
funding Putin's war of aggression are unworthy of Missourians' money. Accordingly, we ask Missourians to replace Russian-made and Russian-branded products with American, and preferably Missouri-made, products."
Source: 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial campaign website LtGov.mo.gov
Mar 2, 2022
Jay Ashcroft:
Wrote bill forbidding enemies from owning Missouri land
The House passed legislation that my office helped write to prevent China, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and North Korea from buying or owning Missouri land. But in the final weeks of the session, the Senate added a loophole, with
support from Senator Bill Eigel, inexplicably allowing each of these countries to buy as much Missouri land as they want as long as they don't use it for farming. That loophole blew up the bill and ended our chances to protect Missouri land in 2023.
Source: 2024 Gubernatorial campaign website AshcroftForMissouri.com
Dec 4, 2023
Bill Eigel:
The ONLY candidate who'll ban China owning Missouri land
Jay Ashcroft has become a vocal cheerleader for restricting foreign-owned farmland. Now, Ashcroft's opponents are using his past advocacy against him. A campaign ad titled "Cows" depicts a bovine forced to learn a new language "now that my farm is owned
by China."Bill Eigel says Jay Ashcroft hasn't gone far enough when it comes to countering foreign-owned land. But Ashcroft's campaign said Eigel, who is pushing for an all-out ban on foreign ag land ownership, actually voted for allowing foreign
ownership in the past.
Ashcroft referred to 2023 legislation Eigel voted for that allows foreign governments to own farmland for "nonfarming" purposes.
Eigel has also filed his own legislation to ban all foreign-owned agricultural land. The measure
would require "aliens and foreign businesses" to "divest interest in agricultural land in the state" by 2027. "Bill Eigel is the ONLY candidate for governor who wants to ban all foreign entities from owning Missouri land," says Eigel's spokesperson.
Source: StlToday AdWatch on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race, "Cows"
May 31, 2024
Crystal Quade:
Democrats have long opposed China owning Missouri ag land
Jay Ashcroft has become a vocal cheerleader for restricting foreign-owned farmland. Now, Ashcroft's opponents are using his past advocacy against him. A campaign ad titled "Cows" depicts a bovine forced to learn a new language "now that my farm is owned
by China."Republicans [including Quade's opponent Mike Kehoe] voted to override Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of a 2013 plan, opening up Missouri ag land to foreign ownership. In recent years, however, Republicans have pushed to reverse course.
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade said "Democrats have been trying to fix the mess the extremists made." She referred to legislation she filed barring future agricultural land purchases by foreign corporations, "ensuring we're putting America's food
and energy needs first."
Quade said that while she has been "sounding the alarm" on the issue, "other candidates have voted to sell off Missouri's farmland or have made other issues a priority over securing our national interests."
Source: StlToday AdWatch on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race, "Cows"
May 31, 2024
Jay Ashcroft:
AdWatch:I don't authorize Chinese ownership of Missouri land
Jay Ashcroft has become a vocal cheerleader for restricting foreign-owned farmland in Missouri, a cause that has grabbed Republicans' attention as US relations with China have deteriorated. Now, Ashcroft's opponents are using his past advocacy against
him.A campaign ad titled "Cows" depicts a Missouri bovine forced to learn a new language "now that my farm is owned by China." The cow says its herd is wondering why Ashcroft supported a law "allowing the Chinese Communist Party to buy land here in
Missouri, even land near sensitive US military bases." Other cows in the ad are adorned with the flag of China.
Ashcroft says the ad ignores the provision creating 30-mile buffers. "That precluded the entire state," Ashcroft said. "They don't
know how to read the bill."
Ashcroft's campaign released an ad featuring Ashcroft's father: "Jay Ashcroft never supported policy or legislation that welcomed or authorized Chinese ownership of Missouri land," said former Gov. John Ashcroft.
Source: StlToday AdWatch on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race, "Cows"
May 31, 2024
Mike Kehoe:
AdWatch: My opponent allows China owning Missouri ag land
Jay Ashcroft has become a vocal cheerleader for restricting foreign-owned farmland in Missouri. Now, Ashcroft's opponents are using his past advocacy against him.A campaign ad titled "Cows" depicts a Missouri bovine forced to learn a new
language "now that my farm is owned by China." The cow says its herd is wondering why Ashcroft supported a law "allowing the Chinese Communist Party to buy land here in Missouri, even land near sensitive US military bases." Other cows in the ad are
adorned with the flag of China.
Asked to back up the claim about Ashcroft, a spokesman for [the pro-Mike Kehoe PAC funding the ad] pointed to legislation Ashcroft testified for in 2023 that would restrict foreign-owned purchases. The bill would have
reduced the current 1% cap on foreign-owned agricultural land to 0.5%, and also would have barred "any alien or foreign business" from buying land within 30 miles of agricultural land, military installations and more.
Source: StlToday AdWatch on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race, "Cows"
May 31, 2024
Bill Eigel:
Ban ALL foreign countries from owning ANY Missouri land
I am the ONLY candidate who wants to ban ALL foreign countries from owning ANY Missouri land. Missouri ought to be owned by Missourians, or at least Americans. In the MO Senate, I filed a constitutional amendment to ban ALL foreign ownership of
MO land and to TAKE BACK the land already in foreign hands. We are getting every single square inch of our land back! My opponents lie about their record.
Before 2013, it was illegal for foreign countries to buy our land. Then, Mike Kehoe, aka Kung Pao Kehoe, voted 4 times to sell 270,000 acres of our land to China. That same year,
Kung Pao Kehoe received $8,500 from the CHINESE company who bought our land. Jay Ashcroft supported SB 55, which would have allowed 135,000 acres of our land to be sold.
Source: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection:2024 Missouri Governor race
Aug 8, 2024
Crystal Quade:
Filed a bill to stop foreign purchasing of farmland
And so I have actually filed the bill the past few years in the legislature to stop the foreign purchasing of farmland. I think unwinding that is a difficult thing. And we need to be open and honest with folks about what that looks like.
But what we can do is stop the continuation of that buying up and be able to protect our family farms and ensure that the folks who are growing our food right here have control over that food and where it's going.
Source: KMIZ ABC-17 News on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Jul 30, 2024
Eric Schmitt:
Time to get back to our core national interests
I do think we're entering a new phase of realism in this country. President Trump will be less interventionist, and we get back to our core national interests. Principally defending the homeland, the Indo-Pacific, and China, and so I think that's a
longer term conversation. We'll make sure everybody is safe over there. That's the first order of business, but, again, I think people have had enough of these forever wars all across the world. We can't be everywhere all at once all the time.
Source: ABC This Week 2024 interview on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Dec 15, 2024
Page last updated: Mar 14, 2026