Republican Presidential Contenders Face Tough Questions on Ukraine at Christian Conservative Forum
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) – Republican U.S. presidential contenders attending a forum of Christian conservatives in Iowa found themselves having to defend their support for Ukraine in its war with Russia to a skeptical crowd. The forum, sponsored by the influential Iowa evangelical group Family Leader, is a traditional stop for Republican candidates seeking to strengthen their conservative credentials in the early nominating state.
Typically focusing on social issues such as abortion and transgender rights, this year’s forum took an unexpected turn as candidates were grilled on their foreign policy stances. Moderator Tucker Carlson, the ousted former Fox News host, challenged former Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Senator Tim Scott on the importance of pushing back against Russian aggression. Responding to Carlson, both Pence and Scott argued that it is vital for the United States to support Ukraine and defend against Russian incursions. They highlighted the billions of dollars worth of weapons that the United States has provided to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Pence expressed his concern about the broader implications if Ukraine falls to Russian forces, stating, “If Vladimir Putin overruns Ukraine, I have no doubt that the Russian military is going to cross the border of a NATO country that our armed forces will have to defend.” However, Carlson seemed unconvinced, asserting that the United States lacks a national interest in the war.
The Republican presidential field is divided on the issue, with front-runner Donald Trump and his closest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, showing lukewarm support for continued American backing of Ukraine. Candidates who have pledged to support Ukraine, like former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, have struggled to gain traction in opinion polls.
According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, a slight majority of Republicans (56%) support U.S. shipments of weapons to Ukraine, compared to 65% of Americans overall. However, Trump supporters have been critical of the U.S. role, arguing that it does not align with the country’s national security interests.
During the forum, the majority of the crowd seemed to side with Carlson’s view that the United States should force an immediate truce in Ukraine. Pence and Scott faced little support for their arguments in favor of assisting Ukraine.
In a surprising move, Trump chose to skip the Family Leader forum and instead hold a separate town hall-style event in Iowa, which drew criticism from the forum’s organizers. They argued that he missed an opportunity to connect with Iowa’s evangelical Christians, a group that has historically played a significant role in the state’s caucuses contest.
The Republican nominating contest in Iowa is scheduled for January 15, 2024. The outcome will have a substantial impact on the candidates’ chances of challenging Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election.
In addition to the Ukraine issue, Carlson also questioned Pence about his role in certifying the 2020 election results in Congress amid false claims of widespread voting fraud. Pence defended his actions and condemned Trump for his role in inciting the Capitol attack. However, his statements did not receive applause from the crowd.
Later in the day, DeSantis, seen as the most viable challenger to Trump in the polls, was scheduled to speak. He is relying on a victory in Iowa to energize his campaign and slow down Trump’s momentum.
Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Ross Colvin and Will Dunham