About a month ago, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell attended a security conference in Germany in the hopes of conveying to the world that the United States’ support for Ukraine remains steadfast. The Kentucky Republican brushed aside chatter about his party giving up on U.S. allies.
“My party’s leaders overwhelmingly support a strong, involved America and a robust trans-Atlantic alliance. Don’t look at Twitter, look at people in power,” the GOP leader said. He added, “Reports about the death of Republican support for strong American leadership in the world have been greatly exaggerated.”
On the surface, the words were intended to reassure. But just below the surface, McConnell’s rhetoric papered over a growing fissure in Republican politics, with a sizable contingent of influential GOP voices arguing that they’re prepared to abandon Ukraine altogether.
Gov. Ron DeSantis used to side with McConnell and other party leaders on the issue. As the Florida Republican prepares to launch a presidential campaign, he’s apparently changed his mind.
A month ago, DeSantis sent an unmistakable signal, condemning the current U.S. policy as an “open-ended blank check,” which the governor said is “not acceptable.” Yesterday, as NBC News reported, the Floridian went much further.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential Republican presidential candidate, broke with many in his party Monday and told Fox News host Tucker Carlson that protecting Ukraine is not a “vital” national interest for the U.S.
The GOP governor said the United States “has many vital national interests,” but as far as he’s concerned, “a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them.”
The fact that DeSantis described Russia’s unprovoked invasion of an ally as “a territorial dispute” was itself extraordinary.
The Floridian went on to express opposition to sending “F-16s and long-range missiles” to help Ukraine defend itself against Vladimir…
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