Republican Congressman Bill Huizenga
Appearances
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
It was. Yeah, I can hear you.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
All right. Yes. Sorry about that. I thank you for having me on the show. It's it's a long trip to get there. It's exhausting. It's really important to do it, especially now. I mean, I can't believe what's going on. It seems like our country. Well, at least the Oval Office has switched sides in this conflict.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
And to meet with the Ukrainian people, you showed the two nurses on the screen there, Tatiana and Irina were their names, and their story is just heartbreaking. It is so sad. You didn't share the part. I think it's important to hear what they experienced. They watched... children that they knew being raped by Russian soldiers in front of their parents.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
And then those kids murdered by those Russian soldiers in front of their parents. It was heartbreaking. It is horrendous. It'll never be forgiven. Those soldiers were sent there by Vladimir Putin to destroy this country. Putin is an existential threat to Ukraine, to Europe, ultimately to us. I those women come to work every single day and try to take care of these veterans.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
It was one of the saddest things I've seen since I've been in this job. And just to think right now where we are, they're going into this negotiation in Saudi Arabia. I hope it goes well. Nobody wants this to end as much as the Ukrainian people. But, Rachel, this has to end in a way where Ukraine has dignity and has their territory back in a way where they're stronger.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
And what Donald Trump has done, I mean, he has really set up these negotiations in a way that not only make us look weak, but they put Ukraine in a really horrible position.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
Well, I could tell you what we shouldn't have done. Right at the beginning here of this negotiation, Donald Trump decides to give up Ukrainian territory, say that's not an option. They're not going to get everything back. And to say they'll never be a member of NATO, that's not the way you go into a negotiation. And Secretary Rubio said something similar here on his way to Saudi Arabia.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
You always want to negotiate from a position of strength. They're not doing that. You're right. They have not asked anything of the Russians. And Putin is a criminal. He respects, if anything, he respects strength. But keep in mind, Rachel, he wants to undermine Western civilization. He wants to undermine our country, our democracy. He wants to take back territory. He's talked about that.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
He wants Ukraine back. Then he's going to go to the Baltics. He's going to go to Poland. And then we have to come to their defense. What I'm trying to do here is making the American people aware that what this administration is is doing right now. They are making serious mistakes. We've got to go into a negotiation strong.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
Donald Trump thinks, you know, he looks, you know, strong, but he's really being a bully. And he's, at least for the Russians, he's making us look weak.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
Well, Rachel, when I was 22 years old, before getting sworn into the Navy or as I was getting sworn in to the United States Navy, I swore an oath to our Constitution to protect and defend the Constitution. I have lived that oath my entire life. I flew in combat in the first Gulf War. I served in the United States Navy for 25 years. I spent 15 years at NASA risking my life flying the space shuttle.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
And The only oath I can think of that maybe Elon has sworn is an oath to his own checking account, to his pocketbook, an oath maybe to ruining the lives of veterans. I had veterans in my office last week who, after... Really good performance reports found out that Elon Musk fired them for poor performance. He has ruined these people's lives.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
They were serving our country again in very valuable roles, and they did not deserve to get fired by an email from an unelected billionaire. So I think Elon needs to go back to making rockets. You know, that that's what he should focus on. He shouldn't be focused on this slash and burn of the federal government. And by the way, Rachel, he's doing it for one reason.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
He's doing this so they create a little space. So the big giant tax cuts that they're going to give for millionaires and billionaires do not look as bad, does not add as much to the debt and deficit. And the way he's going to do it is he's firing people. And then on top of that, he's going to cut health care for kids.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
Kids that a third of kids get their health care or a third of people that get their health care from Medicaid are children. And he's going to cut health care for seniors, all to give this big tax cut. So I would prefer if Elon went back to his old job at SpaceX and Tesla.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
Take a listen to what one person asked and how he in part responded.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Trump puts U.S. at risk with increasing reliance on Musk
I will fully admit, I think Elon Musk has tweeted first and thought second sometimes. He has plunged ahead without necessarily knowing and understanding what he legally has to do or what he is going to be doing.
The Rachel Maddow Show
'A sham': Federal judge blasts Trump admin on improper firings of federal workers; orders rehiring
And then... And then there would be another process to evaluate where we're at there. One more? I feel like this is not productive with everybody yelling at me. I mean, if you want to hear... The question... The questions are coming out of the box one at a time. I'm answering those for you. You're not going to like a lot of them.
The Rachel Maddow Show
'A sham': Federal judge blasts Trump admin on improper firings of federal workers; orders rehiring
And you certainly will have the right in the next election to cast your vote based off of what you hear coming from me now.