Tom Steyer in Council on Foreign Relations


On Energy & Oil: Supports Green New Deal & carbon-neutrality by 2045

Steyer backs the Green New Deal framework proposed by many Democrats and says that if Congress fails to enact it he would use the emergency powers of the presidency to implement climate policies.

His plan calls for a carbon-neutral economy by 2045. He would invest at least $2 trillion in federal spending over a decade into new infrastructure, transportation systems, and clean energy.

His plan would also create a civilian climate corps, which Steyer says would generate one million new jobs at a cost of $250 billion.

He would dedicate $50 billion to helping workers in fossil fuel industries transition to new careers while ensuring their health care and other benefits.

He promises to rejoin the international Paris Agreement on climate, which Trump withdrew from in 2017. He also pledges more aid to other countries to help them transition from fossil fuel use.

He is skeptical of nuclear power. He favors other technologies such as wind and solar power.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary Dec 24, 2019

On Foreign Policy: Rebuild traditional multilateral alliances like NATO

Steyer focuses on reversing what he calls Trump's isolationist stance. He pledges to "rebuild" military alliances such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Steyer says he would "work with our traditional allies in a multilateral way" and argues that Trump's pullback from global institutions has left a vacuum that China and Russia are eager to fill. He says he will "reinvigorate" the State Department, where Trump has sought budget and staffing cuts.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary Dec 24, 2019

On Foreign Policy: More foreign aid for Central America

Steyer has not taken a position on the economic and political crisis in Venezuela, and he has made few comments on U.S. policy elsewhere in the region.

He says he will provide more foreign aid for Central American countries as part of his plan to address the record number of asylum seekers arriving at the U.S. southern border.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary Dec 24, 2019

On Free Trade: No trade war, but stand up to China on intellectual property

Steyer calls China a competitor, but says that "like it or not" the United States has to maintain a political and economic relationship with Beijing.

Steyer opposes President Donald J. Trump's trade war with China but says the United States must "stand up strongly" to Beijing's theft of U.S. intellectual property.

He believes that Trump's America First policy has created a void in international power politics that China and Russia are eager to fill.

He says the United States should respond to abuses by authorities in Hong Kong by creating a coalition of democracies to push back, rather than seeking a bilateral solution.

He argues that the United States can't isolate itself from China, since working with China on climate and regional security will require maintaining a good relationship with Beijing.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary Dec 24, 2019

On Homeland Security: Refocus and reduce U.S. military spending

Steyer criticizes Trump for losing the trust of military leadership, unnecessarily increasing Pentagon spending, and appointing "incompetent" officials in the Department of Veterans Affairs He backs an overall reduction in U.S. military spending, but says he will ensure the U.S. military is the "best-trained and best-equipped fighting force in the world." He argues that more defense spending should go toward emerging threats, including information warfare and climate change.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary Dec 24, 2019

On Technology: Supports net neutrality rules

Steyer criticizes Trump's removal of Obama-era net neutrality rules, which he says "put the internet into the hands of powerful corporations."
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary Dec 24, 2019

On War & Peace: Withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan

He promises to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan in his first year in office. He has identified space as an arena "in which we compete with adversaries" and promises to support air force efforts in space.

He criticizes Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, arguing that it is increasing tensions in the region and pulling the US deeper into a "proxy war" in Syria. He opposed Trump's 2019 buildup of US troop levels in the Persian Gulf in the wake of increased tensions with Ira

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary Dec 24, 2019

On War & Peace: Keep US troops in northern Syria

Steyer has been critical of U.S. support for Israel's security policies, especially its use of force in the Gaza Strip. He disagreed with Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which is opposed by Palestinians.

He condemned Trump's withdrawal of U.S. troops from northern Syria, arguing that the mission there to help the Kurds contain the self-proclaimed Islamic State was successful. He says Trump "sold out" the United States "for the benefit of Vladimir Putin."

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary Dec 24, 2019

The above quotations are from Council on Foreign Relations.
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Page last updated: Mar 16, 2022