Austin News

On November 20, 2024, U.S. Senator John Cornyn addressed the Senate floor, expressing his support for President Trump's nominees for key defense and national security positions. He emphasized the need to restore America's global credibility following what he described as setbacks during the Biden administration.

Cornyn stated, "It is no exaggeration to say we are perhaps at the most dangerous environment geopolitically since World War II, and we know from history that the beginning of wars becomes only clear in retrospect." He stressed the importance of reestablishing deterrence and confronting threats directly: "The United States must reestablish deterrence and must show the world that we are serious about confronting these threats and the reality head-on."

The senator expressed confidence in a new era of peace through strength under President Trump’s leadership: "I’m confident that the United States is headed toward a new chapter of peace through strength, as Ronald Reagan said. This time with President Trump as our Commander-in-Chief."

Cornyn praised Trump's selections for top defense roles, including military veteran Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary, Representative Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor, Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, and former Congressman John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. "I’m glad to see President Trump has selected military veteran Pete Hegseth as the next Defense Secretary, Representative Mike Waltz as the National Security Advisor, and our friend and colleague Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State," Cornyn remarked.

He acknowledged challenges ahead for Congress and the nation: "We have a lot of work to do as a Congress and as a nation to bolster our commitments to our allies and shore up deterrence against our adversaries." Cornyn also mentioned reversing perceived damage from previous years: "By reversing the damage done over the last four years by the Biden-Harris administration, we will be well on our way to a world where America’s friends trust us once again and our enemies fear us once again."

Concluding his remarks, Cornyn expressed eagerness to collaborate with Trump's team: "I look forward to working with Secretary-designate Hegseth, Secretary-designate Rubio, and President Trump to move this country in a better direction."