Populist campaign rhetoric is threatening America's position as a global leader, the GOP chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee warns.
In remarks Thursday to a conference of the
Committee for Economic Development, Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker warned the mixed signals are coming at the worst possible time,
The Hill reports.
"The world is in need of U.S. leadership and clarity probably more so than at any time in modern history. And right now, not seeing that," Corker said.
The dominance of populist rhetoric, particularly by the campaign of front-runner Donald Trump,
is raising questions among foreign leaders.
"By the way, that statement about world leadership — I'm really referring not to the current administration so much. This is almost over," he said. "I'm referring to what's happening in the presidential race. Really, people not getting any strong signals about where this nation will be when this ends."
Corker pointed out the Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders, as well as Trump, all reject the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed trade deal between the United States and 11 other Pacific Rim countries.
"Is the United States going to ratify TPP? Are we going to create that stronger bond so that economically we're more tied together?" he asked, answering: "I don't know."
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