Congress Must Reclaim Foreign Policy
We are witnessing an unprecedented era of 'diplomacy by whim' that erodes our Constitution, drains our Treasury, and leaves our allies in the dark. It is time to stop treating our world like a game of monopoly and start treating our foreign policy like the serious responsibility it is. The current administration is pursuing a senseless and dangerous foreign policy that will leave us weaker and alone in the years to come. Tom McClintock’s inaction undermines the checks and balances in the Constitution, and will leave us weaker and alone in the decades ahead.
This administration’s aggressive posture toward Iran, including threats of renewed strikes and talks of regime change, is being conducted without a single vote from Congress. This violates the War Powers Act and risks another endless, trillion-dollar conflict. Meanwhile, the President talks about Gaza as a prime real estate opportunity for beachfront resorts while the humanitarian crisis unfolds. We cannot allow American lives and billions in taxpayer dollars to be guided by real estate opportunities that enrich the President and his friends while gambling the lives of U.S. military personnel.
Closer to home, the military actions in Venezuela, intervention threats to Mexico, and regime change rhetoric about Cuba and Colombia are fueling instability at our own borders. This administration is sabotaging trade relationships crucial for America’s small businesses, hurting our ability to stop drug and human trafficking, and creating the instability that causes migration to the United States.
Our close allies face threats too. President Trump has repeatedly called for annexing Canada, our largest trade partner and oldest ally. The Greenland fixation is a diplomatic embarrassment and an existential threat to the NATO alliance that has sustained peace in North America and Europe for nearly 80 years. Meanwhile, our wavering support for Ukraine undermines negotiations, emboldens Russia, and invites aggression from our adversaries.
Diplomacy is based on trust, and violating that trust makes it even harder, if not impossible, for the United States to make new deals on issues like reducing nuclear stockpiles, foreign trade, intelligence sharing, and other work that protects the United States every day.
The billions spent on military positioning and the inflation caused by trade disruptions are real. But the true cost of this 'imperial' foreign policy isn't just measured in dollars. The cost is:
Economic Risk: Global markets uncertainty hurting your 401(k) and retirement savings
Local Economies: Fewer foreign tourists visiting California, less money going to small businesses, and trade wars impacting our farmers and local businesses.
Nuclear Risk: Regional escalation that encourages non-nuclear states to develop their own nuclear weapons as their only safety guarantee
National Security: Making the United States less safe from war and terrorist threats as allies stop sharing intelligence.
Constitutional Erosion: Every presidential action without Congress silences the voice of the American people.
As a former public servant, I know that real strength requires military capability, respect for constitutional limits, and international cooperation. I am running to ensure that no President can commit American troops or taxpayer dollars to foreign conflicts without explicit, public consent of Congress. It is time to bring stability back to our shores and respect back to our Constitution.
