US presidential race ‘embarrassing,’ says Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry has denounced as “embarrassing” the current state of the presidential race in the country, saying he gets bombarded with election-related questions wherever he goes.
“Every meeting I have, everywhere, people are asking what is happening with the United States, ‘What are you doing to yourselves?’” Kerry told MSNBC on Tuesday.
The top US diplomat also said he was “confident” that American voters were going to choose the right candidate to succeed President Barack Obama as the 45th US president.
Kerry’s remarks were echoed by Obama, who specifically accused leading Republican candidates of damaging Washington’s reputation abroad.
“I'm getting questions constantly from foreign leaders about some of the wackier suggestions that are being made,” Obama said Tuesday at the White House briefing room. “I have to emphasize that it's not just [Donald] Trump's proposals. You are also hearing concerns about [Texas Senator Ted] Cruz's proposals, which in some ways are just as draconian when it comes to immigration.”
Later, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest offered a more detailed explanation, saying the 2016 race has negatively affected meetings with foreign leaders, who are intent on hearing Obama or Kerry explain the political battle.
Trump, the New York businessman dominating the GOP field, drew international reactions last week when he said Japan, a longtime ally of Washington, should arm itself with nuclear weapons instead of relying on the US military to protect it against North Korea.
The real estate magnate also maintained that Washington should go after NATO member states and pressure them to begin “paying their fair share.”
He has also raised eyebrows by offering to deport millions of immigrants from America and prevent Muslims from entering the country.
Cruz, Trump’s most serious rival, has also promised to round up and forcefully deport millions of undocumented immigrants with the help of law enforcement agencies.
Trump has so far won 740 delegates out of the 1,237 needed for the Republican nomination. He is being followed by Cruz with 514 delegates.
‘Trump witnessed killing, disposal of Epstein victim’s infant,’ released files show
Venezuela's oil grab reveals Trump’s ‘supremacist, colonialist’ agenda: Analyst
A million more Epstein files found; US lawmakers slam Trump admin’s ‘illegal’ withholding
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | Israeli forces launch wide-scale military operation in Qabatiya, south of Jenin
Trump-backed push brings Jolani regime, Israel closer to deal: Israeli media
VIDEO | Iraqi govt. rejects any kind of normalization with Israeli regime
VIDEO | Venezuela's medicine prices soar to unaffordable level amid US blockades
Somalia officially demands Israel reverse recognition of Somaliland
Hezbollah condemns deadly terror attack on worshippers in Syria’s Homs
VIDEO | US military build-up in Caribbean
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
