Donald Trump changed the trajectory of the Republican Party with his big win against Hillary Clinton in 2016.
The business mogul offered something new in terms of foreign policy with his approach to Russia and North Korea. Many of his critics in the GOP are hoping for a different type of candidate in 2024.
They want a return to a foreign policy platform that is closer to what former nominee for president Mitt Romney presented in 2012. Romney wanted to be tough on Russia and other rogue nations.
The Trump critics are looking at people like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley to bring the party’s foreign policy closer to Romney’s vision.
For a while, DeSantis, who has not yet said that he is running for president, seemed like the person to carry that mantle. However, as he gets closer to a decision about his political future, he sounds more like Trump on the matter.
This was made clear on Monday when he criticized President Joe Biden‘s daring visit to Ukraine. Instead of praising Biden like many in his party did, the Florida politician downplayed the threat posed by Russia.
For him, there needs to be more accountability when it comes to Ukraine and how the Biden administration deals with it.
DeSantis told Fox & Friends: “The fear of Russia going into NATO countries and all that and steamrolling, you know, that has not even come close to happening. I think they’ve shown themselves to be a third-rate military power.”
He continued: “He’s very concerned about those borders halfway around the world. He’s not done anything to secure our own border here at home.”
The likely future candidate for president concluded with: “And I don’t think it’s in our interest to be getting into a proxy war with China, getting involved over things like the borderlands or over Crimea.”
Before Trump took over, many Republicans saw Russia as the most significant geopolitical foe to the United States. Traditional conservatives still hold that view.
Observers say that DeSantis sounds like someone who does not want to leave an opening to Trump on foreign policy. However, by doing this, he is leaving behind those with more hawkish views on Russia.
More troublesome for his prospects in the primary, he might be proving to be a mini-Trump and not a genuine alternative.
The former president is still the favorite for the nomination.
