WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“For nearly a year, the Trump Administration has pursued a haphazard, fly-by-the-seat of-your pants ‘foreign policy’ that has severely eroded our country’s leadership on the global stage and made us less safe. Nothing in the President’s speech today or in the National Security Strategy gives me any confidence that the Administration is going to change its dangerous course. Prioritizing ‘America First’ over longstanding alliances, reversing President Obama’s landmark accomplishments on climate change, and mindlessly slashing American diplomacy and development efforts harms our standing in the world, undermines our national security, and cedes much greater influence to our adversaries.

“I’m also deeply troubled by what the President left out of his speech and the strategy—Russia’s 2016 election interference. More than a year after Russia attacked our democracy to promote his candidacy, the President still won’t fully acknowledge what took place, let alone dole out the tough response necessary to prevent it from happening again. And on too many issues—from North Korea to Syria to Iran—we continue to hear only contradictions and half-baked schemes from this Administration.

“I urge my colleagues in Congress to continue putting the national security of our country before party politics, especially at a time when our President fails to do so. This is the only way for us to ensure the safety and security of our country and our leadership in the world.”

# # #