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Trump Has Provocative Words for Allies. Congress Does Damage Control. Trump Has Provocative Words for Allies. Congress Does Damage Control.
(about 13 hours later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump has been in office for barely two weeks, but Congress is already in diplomatic damage control.WASHINGTON — President Trump has been in office for barely two weeks, but Congress is already in diplomatic damage control.
Senators are huddling in meetings or on embarrassing phone calls with ambassadors of major allies, assuring them that, yes, America is still their friend.Senators are huddling in meetings or on embarrassing phone calls with ambassadors of major allies, assuring them that, yes, America is still their friend.
They are cobbling together visits to other nations, something that members of Congress regularly do, but this time with the goal of assuring world leaders that powerful lawmakers do not walk in lock step with Mr. Trump.They are cobbling together visits to other nations, something that members of Congress regularly do, but this time with the goal of assuring world leaders that powerful lawmakers do not walk in lock step with Mr. Trump.
Others are drafting legislation to blunt the force of Russia, with which the Trump administration has been uncharacteristically aligned.Others are drafting legislation to blunt the force of Russia, with which the Trump administration has been uncharacteristically aligned.
They are also trying to discern some kind of consistency from the White House, which was made far more difficult when the administration seemed on Thursday to essentially be embracing President Barack Obama’s positions by demanding that Russia withdraw from Crimea, that Israel curb settlement construction and that Iran face more sanctions for ballistic missile tests.They are also trying to discern some kind of consistency from the White House, which was made far more difficult when the administration seemed on Thursday to essentially be embracing President Barack Obama’s positions by demanding that Russia withdraw from Crimea, that Israel curb settlement construction and that Iran face more sanctions for ballistic missile tests.
“Congress will have to take a much more active role than usual in foreign policy,” said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “In part, to try and move the Trump administration to support more traditional American values abroad and to counter some of the damage he has done. It’s going to be necessary and it’s going to be bipartisan.”“Congress will have to take a much more active role than usual in foreign policy,” said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “In part, to try and move the Trump administration to support more traditional American values abroad and to counter some of the damage he has done. It’s going to be necessary and it’s going to be bipartisan.”
Mr. Cardin said he would soon be visiting Mexico “to repair some of that relationship.” He and Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, the chairman of the committee, recently met with Sigmar Gabriel, the German foreign minister, and King Abdullah II of Jordan. Both senators said they picked up on significant concerns. “The king mentioned that recent policies are having an effect,” Mr. Corker said.Mr. Cardin said he would soon be visiting Mexico “to repair some of that relationship.” He and Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, the chairman of the committee, recently met with Sigmar Gabriel, the German foreign minister, and King Abdullah II of Jordan. Both senators said they picked up on significant concerns. “The king mentioned that recent policies are having an effect,” Mr. Corker said.
Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a remarkable public statement Thursday noting that he had called Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Joe Hockey, to express his “unwavering support for the U.S.-Australia alliance,” after a contentious phone call between Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull concerning the status of refugees from an Australian detention center.Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a remarkable public statement Thursday noting that he had called Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Joe Hockey, to express his “unwavering support for the U.S.-Australia alliance,” after a contentious phone call between Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull concerning the status of refugees from an Australian detention center.
Speaker Paul D. Ryan echoed the sentiments in a news conference. “Prime Minister Turnbull was in my office a couple months ago,” he said. “He’s a very important ally. Australia is a very central ally, they are and they will continue to be.”Speaker Paul D. Ryan echoed the sentiments in a news conference. “Prime Minister Turnbull was in my office a couple months ago,” he said. “He’s a very important ally. Australia is a very central ally, they are and they will continue to be.”
Mr. Trump has broken with the policy positions of congressional Republicans on myriad issues, from trade to immigration to tax reform, and they have largely, so far, bent in his direction.Mr. Trump has broken with the policy positions of congressional Republicans on myriad issues, from trade to immigration to tax reform, and they have largely, so far, bent in his direction.
But in the area of foreign relations, particularly when it comes to longstanding American allies like Australia, Democrats and Republicans have been unified in discontent, and sometimes horror. They were displeased with Mr. Trump’s statements endorsing torture. They were made anxious by President Trump insulting the Iranian government on Twitter, seemingly his preferred medium for foreign confrontations.But in the area of foreign relations, particularly when it comes to longstanding American allies like Australia, Democrats and Republicans have been unified in discontent, and sometimes horror. They were displeased with Mr. Trump’s statements endorsing torture. They were made anxious by President Trump insulting the Iranian government on Twitter, seemingly his preferred medium for foreign confrontations.
They have routinely pushed back on his suggestions that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union are outdated. The phone fracas with the leader of Australia was merely the latest. “The president says ‘America First,’ and I agree,” said Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in his chamber, “But obviously we have important allies around the world.” They have routinely pushed back on his suggestions that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union are outdated. The phone fracas with the leader of Australia was merely the latest. “The president says, ‘America First,’ and I agree,” said Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in his chamber. “But obviously we have important allies around the world.”
House Republicans met last week at their policy retreat in Philadelphia with Theresa May, the British prime minister, before she headed to the White House, in part to convey an important message about America’s commitment to NATO.House Republicans met last week at their policy retreat in Philadelphia with Theresa May, the British prime minister, before she headed to the White House, in part to convey an important message about America’s commitment to NATO.
While such conversations were once box-checking affairs, they have now become a matter of mild emergency, said several House and Senate aides. The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, is particularly invested in international relations and is all but certain to provide quiet reassurance to many diplomats and world leaders.While such conversations were once box-checking affairs, they have now become a matter of mild emergency, said several House and Senate aides. The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, is particularly invested in international relations and is all but certain to provide quiet reassurance to many diplomats and world leaders.
Mr. Trump’s positions on Russia, in particular, have united many members of Congress in their concern. They have been skittish over his repeated suggestions that the nation had not meddled in the United States’ presidential election, contrary to copious intelligence information, and his frequent hints that his administration could lift sanctions against Russia. (On Thursday, the ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki R. Haley, said the United States would not lift the sanctions until Russia withdrew from Crimea.)Mr. Trump’s positions on Russia, in particular, have united many members of Congress in their concern. They have been skittish over his repeated suggestions that the nation had not meddled in the United States’ presidential election, contrary to copious intelligence information, and his frequent hints that his administration could lift sanctions against Russia. (On Thursday, the ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki R. Haley, said the United States would not lift the sanctions until Russia withdrew from Crimea.)
Senators Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, and Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, have joined with Mr. Cardin and Mr. McCain to work on a bill that would require the approval of Congress before Mr. Trump could roll back sanctions.Senators Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, and Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, have joined with Mr. Cardin and Mr. McCain to work on a bill that would require the approval of Congress before Mr. Trump could roll back sanctions.
On Thursday, Mr. Graham and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, said the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism would investigate Russian efforts to influence elections, both in the United States and abroad.On Thursday, Mr. Graham and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, said the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism would investigate Russian efforts to influence elections, both in the United States and abroad.
An executive order Mr. Trump issued last week that targets Syrian refugees and all travelers from several predominantly Muslim nations also drew intense criticism from a broad range of congressional Democrats and a fair number of Republicans, largely in the Senate.An executive order Mr. Trump issued last week that targets Syrian refugees and all travelers from several predominantly Muslim nations also drew intense criticism from a broad range of congressional Democrats and a fair number of Republicans, largely in the Senate.
But efforts to counter Mr. Trump’s missteps and policy provocations can go only so far. “Congress can’t run an effective parallel foreign policy,” said Martin Indyk, the executive vice president of the Brookings Institution, who served as the ambassador to Israel in the Clinton administration.But efforts to counter Mr. Trump’s missteps and policy provocations can go only so far. “Congress can’t run an effective parallel foreign policy,” said Martin Indyk, the executive vice president of the Brookings Institution, who served as the ambassador to Israel in the Clinton administration.
“That is the prerogative of the executive branch,” Mr. Indyk said. “There are now real, substantive differences between the Trump administration and the Mexican government that can only be mended by the two of them dealing directly with each other. Senators can help soothe ruffled feathers, but they’re not the source of the problem and therefore can’t fix it.”“That is the prerogative of the executive branch,” Mr. Indyk said. “There are now real, substantive differences between the Trump administration and the Mexican government that can only be mended by the two of them dealing directly with each other. Senators can help soothe ruffled feathers, but they’re not the source of the problem and therefore can’t fix it.”