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MILWAUKEE — U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul isn’t giving up hope that a second Donald Trump presidency will support Ukraine in its war against Russia, even after Sen. J.D. Vance, a vocal Ukraine aid critic and outspoken isolationist, was nominated to the vice presidency.
Vance’s selection as running mate sets up some potential tension between a future Trump administration and the congressional defense hawks like McCaul, who played a role in securing Ukraine aid last April. Vance has been skeptical of sustained aid for U.S. allies abroad and voted against continued assistance for Ukraine, including the aid package McCaul advocated.
Both are cornerstone priorities for McCaul, an Austin Republican who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee. McCaul said he’s “a little” concerned Vance could portend greater withdrawal by the United States on the world stage, but he isn’t throwing in the towel just yet.
McCaul said he is still in touch with Trump’s foreign policy team, which expands beyond Vance and includes aides who are dedicated to defending American interests overseas.
“I don’t think he wants to be a loser,” McCaul said of Trump on the sidelines of the National Republican Convention. “To Trump, that’s a big thing. And if Putin takes over Ukraine, the United States loses.”
McCaul has been a steadfast supporter of aiding U.S. allies against growing threats from Russia, China and Iran, including Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. He is part of a dwindling generation of pro-defense Republicans who used to dominate Texas’ influence on national politics, from former House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger to former President George W. Bush.
McCaul made appeals to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, to support the Ukraine aid package. Johnson eventually backed the package despite having past misgivings about continuing aid to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Vance said at the Munich Security Conference this year that Europe should prepare for the U.S. moving to “pivot” away from the continent.
“The American security blanket has allowed European security to atrophy,” Vance said.
“I believed in the propaganda of the George W. Bush administration that we needed to invade Iraq, that it was a war for freedom and democracy,” Vance said on the Senate floor in April. “The promises of the foreign-policy establishment of this country were a complete joke.”
Vance said on a 2022 podcast that “I gotta be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.”
Trump has bemoaned that NATO allies don’t spend more on their common defense. But he also acknowledged that Ukraine’s survival is important for U.S. interests.
“As everyone agrees, Ukrainian Survival and Strength should be much more important to Europe than to us, but it is also important to us!” Trump posted on social media in April. “GET MOVING EUROPE!”
McCaul acknowledged that “it’s not popular to look outside the United States” and recognized Vance’s position as “trying to stand for the common man, the working man. That’s always what Trump has done.”
“I think their overall messaging is, we’re tired of paying for it. And I think that resonates,” McCaul said. “What they want is assurances we’re not gonna be footing the bill for everybody’s conflict, but it is getting more dangerous.”
McCaul advised Trump on his 2016 presidential campaign on foreign policy. Prior to leading the Foreign Affairs Committee, McCaul served as the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee.
He said he is still in touch with members of Trump’s team and that there are several of Trump’s top advisers who feel that a strong American presence is necessary. He named former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who served with McCaul in the House, former National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien and former National Security Adviser to the Vice President Keith Kellogg.
“It really depends who the president puts around himself,” McCaul said. “He likes to have differences of opinion and likes to throw them in the ring and let them fight it out.”
Voting FAQ: 2024 Elections
When is the next election? What dates do I need to know?
Election Day for the general election is November 5, and early voting will run from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. The deadline to register to vote and/or change your voter registration address is Oct. 7. Applications to vote by mail must be received by your county of residence – not postmarked – by Oct. 25.
What’s on the ballot for the general election?
In addition to the president, eligible Texans have the opportunity to cast their ballots for many Texas officials running for office at the federal, state and local levels.
This includes representatives in the U.S. and Texas houses and the following elected offices:
-1 U.S Senator (Ted Cruz)
– 1 of 3 Railroad Commissioners
– 15 State Senators
– 7 State Board of Education members
– 3 members of the Texas Supreme Court
– 3 members of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
– 5 Chief Justices and various justices for Texas Courts of Appeals
Lower-level judges and local county offices will also appear on the ballot:
– Various district judges, including on criminal and family courts
– County Courts at Law
– Justices of the Peace
– District Attorneys
– County Attorneys
– Sheriffs
– Constables
– Tax Assessor-Collectors
How do I make sure I’m registered to vote?
You can check to see if you’re registered and verify your information through the Texas Secretary of State’s website. You’ll need one of the following three combinations to log in: Your Texas driver’s license number and date of birth. Your first and last names, date of birth and county you reside in. Your date of birth and Voter Unique Identifier, which appears on your voter registration certificate.
What if I missed the voter registration deadline?
You must be registered to vote in a Texas county by Oct. 7 to vote in the Nov. 5 presidential election. You can still register for other elections.
If you’re registered but didn’t update your address by the deadline, you may still be able to vote at your previous voting location or on a limited ballot. (Voters are typically assigned precincts based on where they live. In most major counties, voters can vote anywhere on Election Day, but some counties require you vote within your precinct. If that is the case, you may have to return to your previous precinct. See which counties allow countywide Election Day voting here. You can usually find your precinct listed on your voter registration certificate or on when checking your registration online.)
If you moved from one county to another, you may be able to vote on a ballot limited to the elections you would qualify to vote in at both locations, such as statewide races. However, limited ballots are only available during early voting. Find your county election official here and contact them to ask about or request a limited ballot.
What can I do if I have questions about voting?
You can contact your county elections official or call the Texas Secretary of State’s helpline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683). A coalition of voting rights groups is also helping voters navigate election concerns through the 866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683) voter-protection helpline. The coalition also has hotlines available for voters who speaker other languages or have accessibility needs.
For help in Spanish, call 888-VE-Y-VOTA or 888-839-8682.
For help in Asian languages, call 888-API-VOTE or 888-274-8683.
For help in Arabic, call 888-YALLA-US or 888-925-5287.
For help in American Sign Language through a video, call 301-818-VOTE or 301-818-8683.
For help from Disability Rights Texas, call 888-796-VOTE or 888-796-8683.
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