Sunflower State News

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas appeared on Fox Business’ "Mornings with Maria" to discuss the first six months of President Trump’s administration. During the interview, Marshall highlighted several policy achievements and shared feedback from constituents in Kansas.

“Well, we’re on Trump time right now. Maria, I think what’s more important is what the American people think. We did three telephone town halls, 5,000 Kansans on those phone calls, and over 80% of them feel our country’s generally going in the right direction.

“Now, by the way, 70% of them think work requirements are good as well. But this is the sort of a new golden era. The border is secure. We’re rolling back regulations. The price of gas and groceries are down. President Trump on these trade deals – major, major wins for all of Americans, but especially rural America, when it comes to agriculture and energy opportunities.”

Marshall addressed ongoing efforts by Senate Republicans to pass appropriations bills and avoid a government shutdown. He attributed any potential impasse to Democratic leadership.

“Well, if there’s a is a shutdown, it’s on the back of Chuck Schumer. He’s doing everything he can to sabotage the process. On the other hand, under the leadership of Susan Collins and all these Appropriations Committees, they’ve got their work done.

“The big news here is that, actually, we’re going back to pre-pandemic spending levels, working towards a balanced budget. So we’ve done our work. The appropriations committees are passing those out in twenty-five to one unanimous in some of the twelve buckets you’re talking about.

“So, now we’ll have to bring them to the floor, and we’ll see if Chuck Schumer keeps eight Democrats from voting for those, so we’re doing our work. If anything, if this doesn’t come to fruition, it will be on the back of Chuck Schumer.”

The senator also criticized Democrats regarding their use of intelligence agencies.

“They lied to us about Joe Biden’s mental health. They lied to us about COVID. And of course, they’ve lied to us all things Russia, Russia, Russia.

“I do remember interviewing with you and going back to the FISA court abuse. I think in 2017 you were already covering that. This is the next chapter of that FISA court abuse. And in this case, it’s new evidence with President Obama’s fingerprints all over this.

“He took evidence that his intelligence agency said, look, there was no interference, and now he’s turned that narrative around and then weaponized his intelligence community to paralyze President Trump’s presidency going forward.

“When I look at a story like this, the first thing I want to know is what’s their motive? Well, the Democrats clearly had a motive here. They wanted to delegitimize the election and they wanted to cripple President Trump’s agenda going forward. And to your point, they did just that.

“The next thing I asked you know does the story make sense? It makes 100% sense. I’m not a conspiracy theorist but here we have again this next chapter of the FISA court abuse. This would absolutely be the next chapter of this. Then where’s the evidence? Well here’s the evidence: The smoking gun—this document from the White House—this new document which Tulsi Gabbard has uncovered—that President Obama literally switched the narrative saying that Russia interfered with the election. He wanted to delegitimize that election and freeze out President Trump’s agenda and the will [of] the American people by the way.”

On trade policy toward China and related international agreements under President Trump:

“Well Maria I just want to again compliment President Trump and what he’s doing strategically with trade to try to put China in a box. If you think about his trade agreements he’s done here put UK aside but you mentioned earlier trade agreements with Japan all those South Sea countries right now as well as Indonesia.

“Indonesia is fourth largest country in world and what China is doing is they’re sending those goods places like Indonesia Vietnam then trying get into US on lower tariff.

“So President Trump is boxing in China right now and I think he’s made it very very clear as far as fentanyl precursors go—and by way because border secure there’s less fentanyl coming into country right now There’s less crime There’s less fentanyl poisoning as well.”