2020 Democrats name biggest geopolitical threat

Democratic presidential candidates at the party’s first 2020 primary debate were asked to give the most significant geopolitical threat facing the U.S. 

Many focused on climate change and China, while some mentioned Iran and even President Trump himself.

“The biggest geopolitical challenge is China, but the biggest geopolitical threat remains nuclear weapons,” former Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.) said.

“The biggest threat to the security of the United States is Donald Trump,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) claimed to loud applause. 

Big applause when Inslee says the biggest threat to the United States is Donald Trump. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/deyAY9hwWb

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 27, 2019

“The greatest threat that we face is the fact that we’re at a greater risk of nuclear war today than ever before in history,” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) told the Miami crowd.

{mosads}“Two threats: economic threat, China, but our major threat right now is what’s going on in the Mideast right now with Iran if we don’t get our act together,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

“Our existential threat is climate change. We have to confront it before it’s too late,” former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) said.

“Climate change,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) agreed.

“Nuclear proliferation and climate change” was the response from Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

“China and climate change,” said former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro.

“China, without a question. They’re whipping us around the world economically,” Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who represents a blue-collar district, said.

“Russia because they’re trying to undermine our democracy, and they’ve been doing a pretty damn good job of it, and we need to stop them,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

The responses come as tensions ratchet up between Washington and Tehran following the shooting down of an unmanned U.S. surveillance drone that the Pentagon said was over international waters. The Iranian strike nearly led to a retaliatory military strike, which Trump said he scrapped at the eleventh hour after learning the attack could kill as many as 150 Iranians.

China also poses a significant economic threat to the U.S. with its strong manufacturing sector.

Climate change has emerged as an animating issue for the Democratic base, with polls showing many view it as a crucial issue for the next administration to tackle.