Sunday shows preview: 2024 race comes into focus as foreign policy takes center stage

U.S. foreign policy will likely dominate the Sunday talk show circuit this weekend, as the 2024 presidential candidates weigh in on American priorities abroad and the Biden administration continues its efforts to thaw icy relations with China. 

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is set to join ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, has recently separated himself from the rest of the crowded GOP field with his radical foreign policy proposals.

The 38-year-old conservative entrepreneur was the only candidate at the Republican primary debate in Milwaukee last week to raise his hand when asked if they would not support continued funding for Ukraine.

He also suggested in a foreign policy platform unveiled on Monday that he would cede territory in eastern Ukraine to Russia in exchange for an end to Moscow’s military alliance with Beijing, block Ukraine’s entry into NATO and end U.S. sanctions on Russia.

On the issue of Taiwan, Ramaswamy said he would defend the self-governing island from a potential Chinese attack until the U.S. obtains independence on semiconductors.

The political newcomer repeatedly sparred with his GOP rivals over his foreign policy proposals on the debate stage last week and has since faced pushback from Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who will make an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, ripped into Ramaswamy at the debate over his lack of foreign policy experience.

“He wants to hand Ukraine to Russia, he wants to let China eat Taiwan, he wants to go and stop funding Israel,” Haley said. “You don’t do that to friends. What you do instead is you have the backs of your friends.”

“You have no foreign policy experience, and it shows,” she added to applause from the crowd.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who will join “Fox News Sunday” this weekend, also criticized Ramaswamy’s position on Ukraine, calling it a “giveaway” and warning that it would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Vivek, if we do the giveaway that you want to give Putin to give him his land, it’s not going to be too long before he rolls across a NATO border,” Pence said, adding, “Frankly, our men and women of our armed forces are going to have to go and fight him. I want to let the Ukrainians fight and drive the Russians out.”

Fox News pundit and Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen also slammed Ramaswamy’s proposals on Monday as “criminally stupid” and “utterly disqualifying,” comparing them to a “freshman foreign policy paper.”

“Amateur hour. All China hears is: ‘We can invade in 2028.’ This is how world wars get started,” Thiessen added on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in response to a post from Ramaswamy explaining his stance on Taiwan.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s trip to China last week and the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce tensions with Beijing will also likely be a major topic of discussion on the Sunday morning shows this weekend.

Raimondo — who is set to make appearances on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” CBS’ “Face the Nation” and CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday — met with her Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao and several other Chinese officials during the visit last week. 

She is the latest senior U.S. official to make the trip to China, following visits by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in July, as the administration attempts to mend a deteriorating relationship between the two superpowers.

Hopes of a potential meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at next week’s summit of G20 leaders were dashed earlier this week, after reports emerged that Xi would likely skip the summit in India. The pair last met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia last November.

However, Biden still appeared hopeful of Xi’s appearance at the summit on Thursday, telling reporters, “I hope he attends.”

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this week’s Sunday talk shows:

ABC’s “This Week” — Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate; Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo; New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R); Franklin Foer, author of “The Last Politician,” about Joe Biden’s presidency

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Raimondo; Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate; Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R)

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Raimondo; Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

“Fox News Sunday” — Former Vice President Mike Pence, a Republican presidential candidate; Jared Bernstein, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” — Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.); Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)