On Nov. 23, Sen. Eric Schmitt stood up on Fox News Sunday and said what too many in Washington refuse to admit: the killing in Ukraine has to stop. Backing President Trump’s reported peace plan, Schmitt called the conflict a “meat grinder” and argued that realism, not fantasy, must guide American policy. Hardworking Americans watching the body bags and price spikes deserve leaders who prioritize peace and prudence over perpetual war.
For decades the bipartisan foreign policy elite preached Wilsonian adventurism — sending our sons, dollars, and munitions everywhere while our own streets and borders suffered. Schmitt nailed it: we live in a world of scarcity and the United States must refocus on the homeland, our hemisphere, and the real strategic threat of China. That is not isolationism; it is common-sense national interest, and voters who care about security and prosperity see the difference.
The senator was blunt about the reality on the ground: Ukraine has lost territory, faces manpower and munitions shortages, and continuing to throw more American money and weapons into a losing ledger is folly. Conservatives who value American strength should recognize that a negotiated peace that preserves Ukrainian sovereignty and builds a pathway to recovery is a better outcome than an endless grind. Patriotism means choosing solutions that actually protect our country and reduce American sacrifice.
President Trump’s approach should be embraced by the right because it centers American power and leverage rather than moralistic wishcasting. The permanent Washington crowd offers bluster and op-eds; Trump offers negotiation backed by the threat of real power — the combination that can stop the slaughter. If the goal is to keep America safe and prevent future wars, it’s time to support leaders who put results over rhetoric.
Schmitt also made a righteous case for decisive action in our own hemisphere, endorsing the administration’s tough posture against narco-terrorists off Venezuela’s coast. The drugs pouring through our southern border are killing Americans and destroying families, and those who coddle cartels while lecturing about due process are on the wrong side. Law and order means using every tool to stop the poison-traffickers and secure our borders, and Congress should back officers who act to protect citizens.
Let’s not ignore the media’s role in undermining sensible policy; anonymous leaks and headline-chasing op-eds have become the favorite tools of those who prefer chaos to clear strategy. Schmitt rightly pushed back on that playbook and reminded viewers that presidents have Article II responsibilities to defend the nation. Oversight is important, but constant second-guessing and sabotage from inside the beltway only empowers our adversaries.
Now is the moment for Republicans and patriots to rally behind a coherent plan: prioritizing the homeland, forcing Europe to do its share, negotiating an end to senseless bloodshed in Ukraine, and confronting China where it matters. We can help rebuild Ukraine through investment and stability rather than endless military expeditions funded by American taxpayers. Strength and prudence together will keep America secure.
The words “the killing has to stop” should echo across Capitol Hill and the nation — not as a surrender to injustice but as a call for realistic, strategic leadership that protects Americans first. Sen. Schmitt’s clarity is a welcome antidote to Washington’s fantasy foreign policy, and conservatives should stand proud behind any plan that ends suffering while preserving American power and priorities. Patriots want peace, but we will always be ready to use strength to secure it.
