Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s stance on Israel
During his campaign, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy expressed openness to cutting off foreign aid to Israel. However, he later clarified to the Washington Free Beacon that he supports U.S. aid to Israel as long as aid continues to other countries in the region.
When asked at a New Hampshire campaign event if he would withdraw funding for Israel, Ramaswamy stated that he would reduce foreign aid as part of a broader disengagement with the Middle East.
According to a video obtained by the Free Beacon, Ramaswamy said, “I would not do that as an isolated policy. I would do it as part of also making sure that we’re not leaving other people we’ve also propped up, from Saudi Arabia to even Iran, in other ways. It has to be part of a comprehensive strategy.”
While Ramaswamy aligns himself closely with former President Trump on the campaign trail, his stance on slashing foreign aid to the Middle East, including Israel, sets him apart. Trump, despite his skepticism of foreign aid, was a strong supporter of Israel, signing the largest ever aid package for the Jewish State into law in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.
Ramaswamy, who describes himself as an “American nationalist,” clarified that his comments at the campaign event were actually in support of Israel. He stated that he opposes selectively criticizing U.S. aid to Israel and believes it should be viewed in the context of broader Middle East policies.
As Ramaswamy gains support, polling at six percent among Republican primary voters, he emphasizes that all foreign spending will be scrutinized if he becomes president.
“My view is we need to stand for American interests, full stop. And the answer is, I don’t believe in answers ad infinitum,” said Ramaswamy at the event. He emphasized that his foreign policy approach would prioritize advancing the interests of Americans living in the country. He stated that any use of federal dollars abroad, including foreign aid, must pass the litmus test of how it actually benefits American interests.
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