WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today joined NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker. Senator Barrasso discussed ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, securing a free and fair trade deal with China, stopping the Democrats’ tax increase, and securing the Southern Border.
On Ending Russia’s War in Ukraine:
“Well, what we’re seeing here is America’s strength and leadership under President Trump, and it’s so wonderful to see the European nations step up to join President Trump in this show of strength to Putin. The killing needs to stop. And I think the 30-day ceasefire is something that Putin needs to accept.
“A longstanding peace in that part of the world between Ukraine and Russia that’s verifiable is going to be good for Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and the United States. We wouldn’t be in this position if we’d had a strong leader previously. Joe Biden did nothing to deter Putin from invading and didn’t give Ukraine the weapons that they needed when they needed them most.
“And the Senate is ready to stand behind President Trump – with him. We have 70 Senators who have committed in a bipartisan piece of legislation to really go after Russia in a punishing way with devastating sanctions on anybody who buys oil, gas, or uranium from Russia. 500% tariffs. And their number one and number two customers are China and India, but there are also countries in Europe who are buying energy from Russia. Putin understands strength, not statements. It’s time to end the war.”
On Securing a Free and Fair Trade Deal with China:
“First, it was the British announcement this week. And in Wyoming where beef is such a big part of our economy, this was a big deal. We’re all for it.
“I’m happy to see President Trump standing up to China. Look, here we are a week after his interview with you, and we are actively engaged in negotiations with China. President Trump learned in his first term that you can’t trust China. China’s economy is weak. They need us, they need our markets, but it’s been a one-way street. We need to make sure that their markets are open to us.
“What we have seen during COVID is that we were dangerously dependent on China for critical minerals, critical medicines. We said never again can we allow that to happen. We know that China has taken advantage of the United States, probably taken more jobs and money from us by stealing our trade secrets than all other countries combined. They use it to get stronger as a nation, to spy on us. I think President Trump is doing the right thing, standing up for American workers and American jobs.”
On Stopping the Democrats’ $4 Trillion Tax Increase:
“I’m a conservative, and I don’t want to increase taxes on anybody. What you do know is that the Democrats, if we don’t get this bill passed, they’re going to raise taxes by $4 trillion on the American people. It will hit every working family in America with higher taxes.
“And, you know, 80% of Americans don’t like what the Democrats are proposing. Our goal is to keep more money in people’s pockets so they can go to the store, pay their rent, save for retirement. That’s what our focus is. Lower costs and higher wages.”
On Securing the Southern Border:
“The President was elected – and he won every one of the battleground states – on promising to secure the border and bring safety back to our communities. That’s exactly what he is doing. People do not want to live with MS-13 gang members in their communities. The Democrats lost the election because they opened the borders to 10 million illegal immigrants, including members of criminal cartels, drug dealers, gang members…
“And the President is now seeing judges, district judges, radical district judges using their courts to set national standards on making it harder for the President to deport individuals, criminals.”
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