Strong Military. Free Trade. No More Funding Other People's Wars.

I'm not a fan of war. By some estimates, only 15–20 years in US history has been entirely peaceful. We've been conditioned for war and, in many ways, we've become numb to it. That has to change — starting with how we think about our military, our alliances, and where we spend American blood and treasure.

Keep a Strong Military — And Keep Them Home

I believe in maintaining the strongest military on the planet. That's not negotiable. But my preference is to keep our men and women in uniform home, not scattered across the globe fighting wars that aren't ours.

That said, I'm a realist. The world the United States and a few other superpowers have built is complicated. Our foreign bases — all around the world — do help keep the peace in the bigger picture. If they weren't there, I believe we'd see a lot more land-grabbing countries and civil and regional wars. Our Navy doing its thing in international waters helps keep things calm and the world markets flowing.

War always brings the same things: loss of life, disruption to citizens' daily lives, and chaos in world markets. I don't believe in getting involved in new wars — not without clear, justifiable reasons. But maintaining our current military presence and keeping our bases where they are is part of the price of global stability.

No More Foreign Aid — Especially to Countries That Hate Us

I would not support any bill that provides foreign aid. Period. And especially not to countries that openly despise the United States.

We can — and should — offer help when natural disasters strike. That's what good neighbors do. But we will no longer be writing blank checks to fund other people's wars, prop up corrupt governments, or subsidize nations that burn our flag in the streets.

Every dollar we send overseas is a dollar that could be spent on veterans' healthcare in Hawthorne, roads in Nye County, or schools in North Las Vegas. American tax dollars should serve American interests first.

Free Trade: The Most Successful System the Planet Has Ever Seen

I'm pro free trade. Free markets are the way to go. It's been the most successful economic system the planet has ever seen — and we're still not doing it right.

On average, the United States produces over 1,000 new millionaires a day. We lead the world in total millionaires. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because free people, making free choices in free markets, create extraordinary prosperity.

But we've got a problem: red tape. Bureaucracies that have been designed — intentionally or not — to prevent competition and keep new businesses from opening up. We need to cut through it. Get government out of the way. Let entrepreneurs do what they do best.

China, Mexico, and a Smarter Path Forward

We empowered China by driving the majority of our manufacturing overseas for cheap labor. I know we won't get most of those jobs back. That ship has sailed. But we can be smarter about where we go from here.

Here's what I'd push for: move those factories to Mexico.

Think about it. We have a huge immigration problem coming from the south for several reasons. Some people move here for work. Others are escaping persecution. Others are criminals. If we help create real jobs in Mexico — good manufacturing jobs — we address several problems at once:

• Jobs for Mexico: More employment opportunities would improve their economy and give people a reason to stay. When people have good work, they're less likely to look for options that involve the criminal world.
• Less pressure on our border: If there are real opportunities south of the border, fewer people need to cross it illegally looking for work.
• A blow to China: Every factory that moves from China to Mexico is a factory that weakens China's leverage over us.
• A stronger neighbor: Mexico is our neighbor. We should be making friends with them, not enemies. We have much to offer Mexico, and we have much to benefit from them as well.

This isn't charity. It's strategy. A stable, prosperous Mexico is good for America. A destabilized Mexico is a crisis on our doorstep. I'd rather invest in partnership than pay for the consequences of neglect.

NATO: I'm a Fan — But We Shouldn't Be Bankrolling It

I believe in NATO. The idea of allied nations standing together for mutual defense is sound. Unity is greater than division — always.

But here's the problem: the United States is carrying the majority of the burden. We're spending the most money. We're contributing the most troops. And too many of our allies are contributing very little while expecting American soldiers to be at their disposal.

That's not a partnership. That's a subsidy.

I support NATO, but I support fairness more. Every member nation needs to pull its weight. Our troops shouldn't be sacrificing the most while other countries coast on our commitment. If we're going to stand together, then everyone stands — equally.

The Bottom Line