WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Republicans have consistently aimed to counter America’s adversaries and bolster U.S. influence on the global stage. However, when President Donald Trump articulated a significant shift in this strategy during his recent address to Congress, members of his party could not help but show their approval with applause.
Shifts toward a neutral stance on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, imposing tariffs on trading partners and allies, and reducing foreign military and humanitarian assistance are just some of the changes.
As Trump advances his “America First” agenda, more changes are anticipated. “We’re going to protect our citizens like never before,” he declared to Congress.
These shifts have led to some of the most striking episodes in the early days of his second term, with the Oval Office confrontation involving Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy being particularly notable.
Many Republicans who previously challenged Trump’s foreign policy during his first term are now rallying behind him. This not only highlights Trump’s influence within his party but also indicates the beginnings of a potential generational transformation in global alliances and power dynamics.
“Honestly, it’s a completely different perspective on global affairs,” commented Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. “How do we minimize enemies and transform even hostile participants into friendly competitors?”
Nonetheless, since taking office, Trump’s foreign policy has been marked by unpredictable begins and pauses.
He has promised to enforce strict tariffs on Mexico and Canada, only to delay those plans. He has floated ideas about U.S. ownership of Gaza, Greenland, and the Panama Canal, only for his administration to later retract such proposals. He has criticized Zelenskyy, put military aid to Ukraine on hold, and fostered warmer relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Here’s how lawmakers have navigated Trump’s foreign policy maneuvers this past week:
The Oval Office clash with Zelenskyy
The open display of discord between Trump and Zelenskyy left many Republicans unsettled at the start of the week.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, opted not to engage with the media regarding the incident.
Another senior Republican who had previously supported Zelenskyy, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, appeared to pivot dramatically. After a deal to allow U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources collapsed, Graham suggested Zelenskyy should resign.
However, as discussions about revived talks emerged, Graham lauded the potential deal as an “implicit security guarantee” for Ukraine, positing it would provide Trump with a financial incentive to deter Russian advances in Ukraine.
“President Trump is a businessman. You need to make business deals,” Graham articulated, noting that the “America First” approach represents a “hybrid” mindset contrasting with the traditional views held by “Reagan Republicans.”
“I view this as a reassessment of conventional alliances and a novel approach to engaging with erstwhile adversaries; I support it because I believe this hybrid strategy is astute,” Graham remarked.
Other Republicans opposed to aid for Ukraine expressed satisfaction at Trump’s apparent falling out with Zelenskyy.
“What we’re witnessing, albeit surprisingly, is a president prioritizing American interests,” commented Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.
The president’s congressional address
The sole portion of Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday that garnered more applause from Democrats than Republicans was his mention of the billions of dollars in military assistance sent to Ukraine. On the Democratic side of the chamber, some members displayed a small Ukrainian flag and donned blue and gold scarves.
On the Republican side, overt displays of support for Ukraine were scarce, with only a handful of members sporting lapel pins featuring both the American and Ukrainian flags.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., one of the few GOP lawmakers advocating for Zelenskyy this week, stated he wore the pin to express his stance supporting Ukraine and described Putin as untrustworthy. “The moment we consider there is anything redeemable about him is when we err,” he emphasized.
Wicker, also adorned with a pin on Tuesday, expressed a desire during a committee meeting that Trump and Zelenskyy would recommence discussions, hoping that “friends choose to move forward” after disagreements. Sitting at the edge of his seat as Trump mentioned Ukraine that evening, Wicker remarked, “It’s time to conclude this senseless conflict.”
A new cadre of advisers
Republicans are not only concerned about the future of Ukraine.
In a Senate hearing, conservative Republicans such as Wicker and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas rigorously questioned Elbridge Colby, Trump’s nominee for a senior policy role at the Pentagon, regarding his past positions, which have included reducing military support to Ukraine, a more lenient stance on Iran acquiring nuclear arms, and softening the U.S. commitment to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.
Wicker also pressed Colby on his alignment with newly appointed Pentagon advisers like Michael DiMino, who advocates for diminished U.S. involvement in the Middle East, or Andrew Byers, who promotes a less confrontational stance towards China.
Colby articulated his belief that the U.S. cannot presently afford to counter numerous foes simultaneously. However, he reassured the senators by suggesting that Iran could potentially pose an “existential threat” to the U.S.
Democrats persistently pushed Colby to acknowledge that Russia instigated its conflict by invading Ukraine. Colby refrained, stating that the Trump administration was engaged in sensitive negotiations with both nations.
Democrats rally for Ukraine support
As Trump adjusted America’s stance on the war in Ukraine, Democrats took to the Senate floor on Wednesday evening in an effort to pass a series of resolutions affirming U.S. dedication to resisting Russia’s invasion and condemning alleged war crimes by the Kremlin.
Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, opposed the resolutions, asserting that while he concurred with the sentiment expressed, it was counterproductive to the ongoing negotiations.
“Everyone desires the same resolution: peace in Ukraine,” Risch stated. “There is only one individual on this planet capable of bringing that to fruition, and that is Donald J. Trump.”
In response to these developments, Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont leading the efforts among Democrats, expressed his disappointment that Republicans could not unite in condemning Putin.
“Mr. Putin, you initiated this devastating war,” Sanders declared. “Your actions are illegal and barbaric. It’s time to cease this conflict.”
