Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) says in a new interview that President Trump’s “unilateralism” on trade issues and other foreign policy is “really dangerous.”
Bush, who challenged Trump for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016 and has said he hopes a Republican primary opponent emerges in 2020, spoke about some of his criticisms of Trump in a podcast interview with CNN’s David Axelrod.
“We haven’t had a major crisis to deal with, but this unilateralism or going-alone-ism I think is really dangerous,” Bush said of Trump’s foreign policy moves during the interview on CNN’s “The Axe Files.”{mosads}
“Our friends no longer believe they can trust the United States and our enemies, in many cases, feel emboldened by this approach,” he added. “I think it defies the…bipartisan kind of consensus on foreign policy that has by-and-large kept America safe.”
He also criticized Trump’s ability to handle “kingly duties” in his presidential role, such as responding to tragedies and moments of crisis. He did, however, praise Trump’s tax policy, regulatory changes and judicial nominations.
“You can honestly say he’s done good things in terms of policy and applaud them,” Bush said. “I think the symbolic, you know the kingly duties of the presidency, that’s where he falls short, and it’s important.”
Bush also said in the interview that he hopes that Trump faces a GOP primary challenger next year. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) have mulled potentially facing off against the president in 2020.
Bush, who is the brother of former President George W. Bush and son of the late President George H.W. Bush, was an early favorite in the 2016 GOP primary, but was eventually defeated by Trump.