Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., says that he tells world leaders that he can’t guarantee that President Trump will listen to his national security advisers.
“I tell them that he has surrounded himself with an outstanding national security team,” McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. “I cannot guarantee to world leaders that he will always listen to them, but he has so far.”
In the past week, Trump and his White House have given conflicting indications regarding U.S. financial support for South Korea’s missile defense system.
Asked to explain what he tells world leaders about how to interpret erratic statements from the president, McCain said that “it’s important to watch what the president does, rather than what he says.” McCain referenced, in particular, Trump’s decision to strike Syria with cruise missiles.
McCain had long advocated greater military action against the Syrian government and praised Trump’s action.
World leaders should understand that Trump’s team favors stronger engagement, McCain suggested. “I tell them that we have a great national security team,” he said.
