Trump won't be at Iowa Republican presidential forum, but his stance on Ukraine will be on host Tucker Carlson's mind

BlazeTV will broadcast the 2023 FAMiLY Leadership Summit: Principle over Politics in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 14, beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

The event, hosted by Tucker Carlson, will present GOP primary contenders with an opportunity to further distinguish themselves before a massive audience and make a case for why they are best equipped to helm the nation. The candidates also run the risk of having Carlson expose whatever potentially unpopular views they might hold, which mainstream outfits might otherwise have glossed over if given the chance.

Although former President Donald Trump, far and away the leader in the Republican primary race, will be noticeably absent, some of his defining views are sure to make their way to the stage for debate — particularly his stance on Ukraine, which has captivated Carlson.

'A big question'

In his first interview since leaving Fox, Carlson recently told the titular host of the "Stay Free Russell Brand" podcast that Trump will likely go down in history as one of the most consequential figures in a century, particularly on account of how he realigned the Republican Party "against the wishes of Republican leaders."

"When I think about Trump right now ... I'm struck by his foreign policy views. You know, Trump is the only person with stature in the Republican Party, really, who's saying, 'Wait a second, why are we supporting an endless war in Ukraine?'" said Carlson.

"Leaving aside whether Trump's going to get the nomination or get elected president or would be a good president, you know, I can't even assess that. All I can say at this point is I'm so grateful that he has that position. He's right," continued Carson. "And everyone in Washington is wrong. Everyone. And Trump is right on that question, and it's a big question."

"That war is reshaping the world. It's reshaping the economy of the world. It's reshaping populations. ... Europe will never be the same," said Carlson. "It really matters, and Trump alone among popular figures in both parties understands that."

Carlson further indicated that his past criticism of militarily and/or financially aiding in the prolongation of the war may have had something to do with his termination from Fox News, noting to Brand the war is a "red line for a lot of people in business and politics."

This red line appears also to divide Republicans.

According to a June Gallup poll, 49% of Republican respondents indicated that they wanted the conflict resolved in short order, even if Russia keeps some territory. 47% said they supported a prolonged conflict if it means Ukraine possibly reclaiming territory.

In light of Carlson's sense that Russia's war on Ukraine "is reshaping the world," his past interest in Republicans' stances on the "big question," and the recent debates about NATO membership for Ukraine, the 2023 FAMiLY Leadership Summit host is likely to raise the matter in his return to television this week when speaking "one-on-one" with the candidates.

This topic may prove deadly for some candidates' chances and perceived credibility but also serves as an opportunity to blunt Trump's edge.

Who will answer and what might they say?

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), former Vice President Mike Pence (R), Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), author and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (R), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R), and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) have indicated they will be in attendance at the 2023 FAMiLY Leadership Summit: Principle over Politics.

The event has been touted as the "Midwest's biggest gathering of Christians seeking cultural transformation in the family, church, government and more."

Although there are likely to be surprises in how candidates answer the "big question" on Friday, they have at the very least hinted at where they stand in recent months.

Former Vice President Mike Pence

Tucker Carlson sent Pence and other Republicans a "Ukraine questionnaire" earlier this year, which asked, "Is opposing Russia in Ukraine a vital American national strategic interest?"

Pence responded, "This is not America’s war, but if Putin is not stopped and the sovereign nation of Ukraine is not restored quickly, he will continue to move toward our NATO allies, and America would then be called upon to send our own."

Pence indicated that the criteria for an end of war would be the restoration of sovereignty and peace, adding, "Ukraine's victory should be an unmistakable, undeniable defeat for Russia and its allies."

While claiming he does not "believe in sending blank checks," Pence has admitted to no limits on support for Ukraine.

This week, he stated his support for sending cluster bombs to the region.

Sen. Tim Scott

Sen. Tim Scott appears to have hedged his bets, acknowledging Americans' frustration with the war while also claiming, "American strength at home and abroad is the only way to ensure security and freedom for our people today and generations to come."

The New York Times noted that Scott supports aid to Ukraine, suggesting "it prevents or reduces attacks on the homeland."

Scott responded to Carlson's survey in March, stating, "Degrading the Russian military is in our vital national interest."

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley

Haley is all in on arming and funding Ukraine's continued efforts to repel Russian forces, stressing it "is in the best interest of America."

The former ambassador to the U.N. told CNN, "A win for Ukraine is a win for all of us, because tyrants tell us exactly what they're going to do," suggesting Moscow might make incursions into Poland and the Baltics next.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson

Hutchinson similarly supports aid to Ukraine, but indicates audits are necessary to ensure funds are utilized appropriately.

The former governor has reportedly taken issue with Trump's and DeSantis' "isolationist view," stating, "If we stand by and let this nation falter, it leaves a hostile Russia on the doorstep of our NATO allies."

Vivek Ramaswamy

While recognizing Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine as a "needless war," Ramaswamy argued that "Europeans need to be the main upholders of European security. The Europeans, starting with the Germans, need to do more for themselves."

The entrepreneur claimed that opposing Russia in Ukraine is not a vital interest. Instead, he suggested America should be focused on pursuing national energy independence and confronting both the Chinese regime and Mexican drug cartels.

In terms of resolving the war in Ukraine, he would be amenable to lifting sanctions on Russia, ceding portions of the Donbas region to Moscow, and barring Ukraine from NATO.

Gov. Ron DeSantis

The Florida governor told radio host Howie Carr Wednesday, "There’s no clear objective for victory. And this is kind of dragging on and on," and expressed concern that the war could "end up just going on for years."

DeSantis, responding to Carlson's questionnaire in March, wrote, "While the U.S. has many vital national interests – securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military power of the Chinese Communist Party – becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them."

"The Biden administration’s virtual “blank check” funding of this conflict for “as long as it takes,” without any defined objectives or accountability, distracts from our country’s most pressing challenges," continued the governor. "Without question, peace should be the objective. The U.S. should not provide assistance that could require the deployment of American troops or enable Ukraine to engage in offensive operations beyond its borders."

He also recently denounced the shipment of cluster bombs to the region.

While these views are not in such sharp relief with Trump's, it appears that they may not have been his views up until just recently and that even now, they may be prone to change.

The Florida governor told "Piers Morgan Uncensored" in late March that his previous responses to Carlson had been "mischaracterized" and appeared to walk back his suggestion that the war was a "territorial dispute."

"Obviously, Russia invaded that, and that was wrong," said DeSantis. "They invaded Crimea and took that in 2014. That was wrong. What I'm referring to is kinda where the fighting is going on now, which is that western border or eastern border reaching Donbas and then Crimea."

"I just don’t think that’s a sufficient interest for us to escalate more involvement. I would not want to see American troops involved there. But the idea that I think somehow Russia was justified, that’s nonsense," he added, noting that if he could snap his fingers, he would "give it back to Ukraine 100 percent."

Carlson might make a meal out of this apparent about-face alone, but it is possible he'll go back further to challenge DeSantis' position on Ukraine while in Washington.

CNN highlighted that while serving in Congress during former President Barack Obama's tenure, DeSantis urged sending "defensive and offensive" weapons to Ukraine in 2014 and 2015.

DeSantis reportedly told radio show host Bill Bennett in June 2015, "I think that when someone like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin sees Obama being indecisive, I think that whets his appetite to create more trouble in the area. And I think if we were to arm the Ukrainians, I think that would send a strong signal to him that he shouldn’t be going any further."

He was also a self-described exponent of the "Reagan school" of foreign policy concerning Russia — not unlike Haley and other interventionist Republicans today — until at least December 2017, around which time he told Fox News that Democrats "viewed guys like me who are – who are more of the Reagan school that’s tough on Russia as kind of throwbacks to the Cold War."

Democrats have not been alone in noting DeSantis' inconsistency.

Trump called DeSantis' efforts to distance himself from the "Reagan school" to a more populist, isolationist stance another "flip-flop," adding, "He was totally different. Whatever I want, he wants."

Haley similarly suggested DeSantis was attempting to ape Trump, suggesting, "Republicans deserve a choice, not an echo," reported CBS News.

Former President Donald Trump

Trump has long been an outspoken critic of the war, stressing the need for negotiations between Moscow and Kiev to broker a ceasefire.

Last October, Trump told supporters in Arizona, "With potentially hundreds of thousands of people dying, we must demand the immediate negotiation of the peaceful end to the war in Ukraine, or we will end up in World War III and there will be nothing left of our planet all because stupid people didn’t have a clue. ... They really don’t understand … what they’re dealing with. The power of nuclear. They have no idea what they’re doing."

"When I see all these people being killed, it’s got to stop. They’ve got to negotiate a deal. It’s got to stop," added Trump.

Trump has repeatedly claimed in the months since that the "war would never have happened" under his watch and that he could resolve the conflict in 24 hours.

It has been over 500 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.

It remains to be seen whether Carlson will raise the matter of the war on Friday, but those eager to find out need only tune in to BlazeTV and the BlazeTV YouTube channel.

Glenn Beck will be interviewing Tucker Carlson after the summit.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!