Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says the United States needs to stand strong with foreign allies like South Korea following President Donald Trump’s meeting with North Korea’s leader this week. The Republican senator who serves on the Armed Services Committee was asked during a conference call with Iowa reporters about President Trump’s pattern of siding with foreign leaders over U.S. intelligence.
“The president has a unique negotiating strategy,” Ernst says. “I would say part of that strategy is to gain the confidence of others.”
Ernst adds the president’s strategy is not one she would take.
President Trump says North Korean Leader Kim Jung Un was not responsible for the death of Otto Warmbier. He’s the American student who died shortly after being detained for 17 months in North Korea.
Trump has also taken the word of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding U.S. election interference. He’s done the same with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“We know that North Korea is bad. We know that Russia is bad,” Ernst said while not calling out Saudi Arabia individually. “I’m going to do all I can to back up those populations and those leaders of countries that wish to remain free around this globe.”
Ernst, a military veteran, praised Trump for walking away from the North Korea talks when Trump and Kim failed to reach an agreement that would have led to lifting sanctions on Pyongyang.
