Trump the Dove? Or Trump the Neocon? (w/ Curt Mills)

5 snips

Nov 21, 2024

Curt Mills, Executive Director of The American Conservative and longtime foreign policy reporter, dissects the eclectic mix of ideologies in Trump's nascent national security team. The conversation uncovers the tension between neoconservatives like Marco Rubio and isolationist figures such as Tulsi Gabbard. Mills shares insights on how Trump may navigate these competing factions, reflect on cabinet controversies like Matt Gaetz's withdrawal, and assess the potential for a shift in America's foreign policy direction. Expect a captivating exploration of power dynamics and ideological clashes!

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ANECDOTE

Buchanan's Foreshadowing

Pat Buchanan's 1992 primary campaign foreshadowed Trump's 2016 victory.
Buchanan's focus on issues like trade and foreign policy prefigured Trump's platform.

INSIGHT

Trump's Transactional Advantage

Foreign leaders may view Trump's transactional approach favorably, as it allows for deal-making.
Trump's perceived unpredictability could also be a strategic advantage in international relations.

INSIGHT

Rubio's Surprising Appointment

Marco Rubio's appointment as Secretary of State is unexpected given his neoconservative background.
Rubio's charisma, Latino heritage, and experience make him a strong political figure.

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The second Trump administration hasn't started, but it's already proving chaotic, disturbing, and downright bewildering. (Not unlike the first!) Trump's picks for key staff and cabinet positions display a discordant, if not altogether surprising, mix of ideologies, experience, and scandalous baggage. (Indeed, one of his picks, Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, withdrew from consideration between the time we recorded our interview and when we recorded the intro.)

For this episode, we're focused on Trump's national security team, which is shaping up to be divided against itself: neoconservatives like Marco Rubio (State) alongside quasi-isolationists like Tulsi Gabbard (Director of National Intelligence) alongside bellicose TV personalities like Pete Hegseth (Defense). To make sense of it all, we're joined by Curt Mills, a longtime foreign policy reporter and executive director of The American Conservative. A semi-enemy, Curt hails from the paleoconservative school of foreign affairs, which prioritizes realism and restraint. (That is to say, he's not thrilled about Rubio...) Based on Trump's appointments thus far, we ask Curt to assess, from his perspective, the relative strength of various factions of the Trump coalition: Will Trump listen to the warmongers in his midst? Will he side with the America Firsters? Or will he ignore everyone and just make some deals? Listen to find out.

Further Reading:

Curt Mills, "What a Trump Cabinet Might Look Like," The American Conservative, Oct 18, 2024.

— "What Trump Could Do in Foreign Policy Might Surprise the World," NYTimes, May 13, 2024.

Patrick Smith & Peter Alexander, "Police report details alleged sexual assault by Trump's defense pick Pete Hegseth," NBC News, Nov 21, 2024.

Baker, Haberman, Swan, "Gaetz’s withdrawal follows revelations in a sex-trafficking inquiry." NYTimes, Nov 21, 2024.

Dave Phillips and Carol Rosenberg, "The Metamorphosis of Pete Hegseth: From Critic of War Crimes to Defender of the Accused," NYTimes, Nov 21, 2024.

David Frum, "Unpatriotic Conservatives," National Review, Mar 25, 2003.

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