Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper Warns of Consequences if Donald Trump Wins Reelection

Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper expressed his concerns about the potential consequences of a second term for former President Donald Trump. Speaking on CBS, Esper emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia and warned of potential actions by Trump if he were to return to office.

Esper suggested that Trump might attempt to negotiate a deal between Russia and Ukraine, but he believes such efforts would not succeed. He stressed that only Russian President Vladimir Putin has the power to end the conflict, and that is unlikely to happen in the near future. Esper also expressed concern that Trump might seek to end funding for Ukraine, which he believes would be detrimental to U.S. national security.

Trump, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has previously indicated that he believes the U.S. provides too much support to Ukraine and has claimed that he could end the war swiftly if reelected.

In addition to his stance on Ukraine, Trump has been critical of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), an alliance between numerous countries in Europe and North America. Esper warned that Trump’s policies could include withdrawing funding for NATO, a move he described as disastrous for U.S. national security.

Esper also raised concerns about Vladimir Putin’s intentions, suggesting that the Russian leader may be hoping for Trump’s return to the presidency. This could potentially impact U.S. foreign policy and national security.

During the interview, Esper also commented on Senator Tommy Tuberville’s hold on military nominees, which has affected over 300 senior Pentagon officers awaiting Senate confirmation. Tuberville has blocked these promotions as a protest against a Department of Defense policy related to service members’ travel expenses for abortion. Esper criticized this move, emphasizing that it is unfair to hold military nominees hostage over a policy issue unrelated to their responsibilities.

Esper further highlighted the negative message such gridlock in Washington sends to the world. He pointed out that the Chinese government does not experience similar shutdowns or delays in confirming senior military personnel, which could harm U.S. readiness and create a perception of dysfunctionality on the international stage.