President Barack Obama thinks Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker needs to “bone up” on foreign policy.
In a recent interview with NPR, Obama said critics like the Republican governor and likely 2016 candidate don’t understand how international agreements work. Last week, major world powers negotiated a framework with Iran for a deal that requires the country to dismantle the most potentially dangerous parts of its nuclear program. In exchange, the United States and its allies will lift sanctions that have isolated Iran and crippled its economy.
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Walker, who ranked at the top of a recent poll for potential 2016 contenders, responded to Obama on Tuesday, saying his failed attempt at leadership has put him at odds with both Americans and the international community.
“Americans would be better served by a president who spent more time working with governors and members of Congress rather than attacking them. Whether it is cutting a bad deal with Iran, calling ISIS the JV squad, or touting Yemen as a success story, Obama’s lack of leadership has hurt America’s safety and standing in the world,” Walker said in a statement.
Walker has previously said that if he is elected into the White House he would revoke the deal with Iran even if U.S. allies want to remain in the agreement.
“I am confident that any president who gets elected will be knowledgeable enough about foreign policy and knowledgeable enough about the traditions and precedents of presidential power that they won’t start calling to question the capacity of the executive branch of the United States to enter into agreements with other countries,” Obama said during the NPR interview. “It would be a foolish approach to take, and, you know, perhaps Mr. Walker, after he’s taken some time to bone up on foreign policy, will feel the same way.”
If the agreement is questioned, he added, it will be a problem for U.S. allies and it will embolden the country’s enemies.
Last week, Obama hailed the deal as a “historic understanding.” Iran and six world powers, including the United States, negotiated since March 26 on the nuclear program, which Iran insists is peaceful. The countries need to reach a final deal in June.
Prior to the negotiation, 47 GOP senators sent a letter to the leaders of Iran, warning them that Republicans were prepared to undercut any nuclear agreement reached between the Islamic Republic and the United States.
Michele Richinick