US Republican 2024 candidates for the US presidency found themselves on Friday having to defend their support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia in front of a suspicious audience while speaking at a Christian conservative gathering in Iowa that usually concentrates on social concerns.
A yearly stop on the Republican presidential campaign route for candidates looking to bolster their conservative credentials in Iowa is the forum in Des Moines, which is sponsored by the Family Leader, a significant evangelical organization in Iowa.
In this state, the first election will be held to choose the party’s nominee to run against Democratic President Joe Biden in 2024.
The contenders were asked some of the toughest questions not on well-liked conservative social issues like opposition to abortion and transgender rights, but rather on foreign policy.
Former Vice President Mike Pence and US Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina both claimed that it is still crucial for the United States to retaliate against Russian aggression when pressed by moderators and dismissed former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson to defend their positions.
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Candidates’ Positions On Ukraine Conflict Highlighted In Forum
After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the United States sent Ukraine weaponry worth billions of dollars.
Another contender, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, advocated for an immediate conclusion to the conflict while allowing Russia to preserve its territorial gains.
The majority of the audience appeared to agree with Carlson’s position that the United States should compel an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine, and the majority kept quiet when Pence and Scott disagreed.
Trump has also been outspoken in his criticism of US involvement in the conflict, accusing Biden of “reckless escalation” in Ukraine by mobilizing 3,000 military reservists.
Republican candidates who have supported Ukraine, such as Pence, Scott, and former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, who also spoke on Friday, have not fared well in polls.
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Source: Reuters.com