National Defense
Prioritizing military strength while rooting out fraud and waste.
Strength Through Unity
Balancing a strong defense with smart spending to protect our nation and support our communities at home.
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National Security
Conservatives have long advocated for robust military budgets to ensure America maintains a dominant fighting force.
Liberals have long pushed back, favoring smaller defense budgets with the savings redirected toward social programs.
Centrist position has been brought into sharp focus by the war in Ukraine. That conflict has demonstrated, in real time, that a strong army is not optional — it is the only thing standing between a free nation and a powerful adversary willing to simply take what it wants. The Ukraine war has also exposed how severely Europe and NATO have underfunded their militaries, leaving them dangerously vulnerable to Russian aggression, invasion, or missile attack.
In hindsight, aggressive investment in military strength was the right call. The Europeans cut their defense budgets and are now exposed to Russian and Chinese hegemony. Once again, America has had to fill the gap — and that should frustrate every American. We have been forced to underfund our own social programs and infrastructure year after year to cover bills that our allies should have been sharing all along. Getting Europe to finally pay its fair share is long overdue, and it will mean real savings that can be redirected toward American taxpayers, hungry children, and seniors struggling with inadequate income and healthcare.
President Trump has demonstrated that pressuring European leaders to cut popular domestic programs in favor of military spending is not a vote-winner for them athome. Driving those difficult decisions required aggressive criticism and hardball tactics — making clear that their lack of adequate defense funding was no longer acceptable, regardless of the political cost. We regret that it required such blunt force, but the dollars at stake are real, and the needs here at home are real.
The good news: Europe is now committing billions more to collective defense, which means America can commit billions less. That is a genuine win.
On the domestic side, there is rare bipartisan alignment to be found. Liberals support trimming the military budget; Conservatives are energized to root out fraud and waste within it. Those two goals are more compatible than they appear. Country before party — and the result is a win for everyone.
Quick Answers
Why fund defense?
A strong military stands between freedom and aggression.
What about social programs?
Fair burden-sharing frees up funds for child care and healthcare.
How has Ukraine war affected views?
It exposed Europe's military gaps and reinforced the need for US strength.
Can Europe pay more?
Yes, recent commitments show growing European defense funding.
Is bipartisan progress possible?
Yes, both sides want efficient budgets and reduced waste.
How does better funding impact Americans?
More fair ally funding equals more resources for US social needs and infrastructure.