--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: China, Russia, Iran and other adversaries…" description: "\"China, Russia, Iran and other adversaries each pose a threat to our elections, and the Trump administration seeks to counter all of those threats in a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/robert-c-o-brien-5596_china_china-russia-iran-and-other-adversaries_984763.jpg" --- # China, Russia, Iran and other adversaries each pose a… ![“China, Russia, Iran and other adversaries each pose a threat to our elections, and the Trump administration seeks to counter all of those threats in a serious, professional and apolitical fashion.” quote by Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/robert-c-o-brien-5596_china_china-russia-iran-and-other-adversaries_984763.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/robert-c-o-brien-5596_china_china-russia-iran-and-other-adversaries_984763.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/robert-c-o-brien-5596_china_china-russia-iran-and-other-adversaries_984763.jpg) > “China, Russia, Iran and other adversaries each pose a threat to our elections, and the Trump administration seeks to counter all of those threats in a serious, professional and apolitical fashion.” [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement frames foreign interference as a security threat and asserts a neutral, professional response, emphasizing apolitical handling. **In simple terms:** Foreign actors threaten elections; government will act professionally Key Takeaway Treat election security as a nonpartisan priority Themes politics security foreign influence Mood cautious serious Type policy strategic When to use this quote - election monitoring - policy drafting - public communication Key Concepts democracy national sovereignty information warfare Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards ensure true apolitical action? - How can transparency be balanced with security? A Different Perspective Apolitical stance may be hard to maintain in polarized climates ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran/) [Threats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threats/) ## Related quotes > [The Trump administration has taken the fight to those espousing hateful anti-Semitic views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-trump-administration-has-taken-the-fight-to-those-espousing/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [We're going to do everything we can to harden our systems, to make sure that our elections are free and fair and the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/we-re-going-to-do-everything-we-can-to-harden-our-systems-to-make/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [Well, free elections are the foundation of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/well-free-elections-are-the-foundation-of-our-democracy/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [I don't know everybody's political opinions, but I think the majority of people in the arts are pretty leftist, and we're disappointed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-sparks/i-don-t-know-everybody-s-political-opinions-but-i-think-the-majority/) [Paul Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-sparks/) > [As the Trump administration takes office - and we see acts of racism, misogyny, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination around the country -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/as-the-trump-administration-takes-office-and-we-see-acts-of-racism/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Trump's administration looks a great deal like those of the 1850s and the 1890s, with business and government so intertwined that they cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/trump-s-administration-looks-a-great-deal-like-those-of-the-1850s-and/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [One of the hallmarks of a Trump administration has been to introduce us to quintessentially New York characters and their special brand of famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-katharine-ham/one-of-the-hallmarks-of-a-trump-administration-has-been-to-introduce/) [Mary Katharine Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-katharine-ham/) > [There's no one who has sued the Trump administration on transparency issues more than Judicial Watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/there-s-no-one-who-has-sued-the-trump-administration-on-transparency/) [Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/) > [Canada has no closer friend, partner, and ally than the United States. We look forward to working very closely with President-elect Trump, his administration,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/canada-has-no-closer-friend-partner-and-ally-than-the-united-states/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [One of the principles of the Trump administration is that we will never sacrifice our economy on the altar of foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-navarro/one-of-the-principles-of-the-trump-administration-is-that-we-will/) [Peter Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-navarro/) > [Russia may very well be front and center again in 2020 as they were in 2016 regarding interference in America's presidential election. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/russia-may-very-well-be-front-and-center-again-in-2020-as-they-were/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [“The Trump administration is empowering minority business owners by eliminating, excessive, unnecessary, and burdensome regulations that too often hinder their growth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-cooper/the-trump-administration-is-empowering-minority-business-owners-by/) Horace Cooper > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Robert C. O'Brien > [As the Navy gets smaller, the world's oceans are becoming more dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/as-the-navy-gets-smaller-the-world-s-oceans-are-becoming-more/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [When the Jewish state of Israel is strong, Jewish communities worldwide are also strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/when-the-jewish-state-of-israel-is-strong-jewish-communities/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [In World War II, America was the Arsenal of Democracy, providing war materiel to our Allies that ultimately led to victory over tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/in-world-war-ii-america-was-the-arsenal-of-democracy-providing-war/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The American voter knows that we cannot protect the seas and our interests overseas unless we have ships that can fight and deliver Marines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-american-voter-knows-that-we-cannot-protect-the-seas-and-our/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [Well, free elections are the foundation of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/well-free-elections-are-the-foundation-of-our-democracy/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [I never wanted Mark Esper's job. I just wanted to see Mark Esper succeed and do a great job as secretary of Defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/i-never-wanted-mark-esper-s-job-i-just-wanted-to-see-mark-esper/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The men appear to have a special blend of GOP DNA: Rubio and Cruz appeal to both the key social conservative and defense hawk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-men-appear-to-have-a-special-blend-of-gop-dna-rubio-and-cruz/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [By interacting with NATO vessels on E.U. anti-piracy duty, the Chinese are gaining valuable insights in to Western naval doctrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/by-interacting-with-nato-vessels-on-e-u-anti-piracy-duty-the-chinese/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The worst kidnapper of Americans is a nation state - Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-worst-kidnapper-of-americans-is-a-nation-state-iran/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [No, I don't think there's systemic racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/no-i-don-t-think-there-s-systemic-racism/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The United States Navy is of critical importance to the defense of this country and to maintaining freedom of the seas internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-united-states-navy-is-of-critical-importance-to-the-defense-of/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [My job as the national security adviser is to distill and present to the president the views and options that come from the various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/my-job-as-the-national-security-adviser-is-to-distill-and-present-to/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [Both Russia and the United States have had their homelands attacked by violent extremists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/both-russia-and-the-united-states-have-had-their-homelands-attacked/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [We're going to do everything we can to harden our systems, to make sure that our elections are free and fair and the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/we-re-going-to-do-everything-we-can-to-harden-our-systems-to-make/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [It is hard for anyone born after 1945 to imagine a world where the oceans - the global commons - are not open for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to-imagine-a-world-where-the/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) [Explore all 99 Robert C. O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) ## More China quotes > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [There is no precedent of an advanced economy withdrawing from a trade agreement as deep and as complex as the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-precedent-of-an-advanced-economy-withdrawing-from-a-trade/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [In China, people are moving from bigger cars to small hatches, and interestingly, the Indian market is graduating to bigger cars and sedans. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Language is so specific to art, all the way to the past in China. Previously, people were not allowed to include various regional dialects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-zhangke/language-is-so-specific-to-art-all-the-way-to-the-past-in-china/) [Jia Zhangke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jia-zhangke/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [India may be overtaking China as the world's most polluted country. Even now, which country is worse depends on the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/india-may-be-overtaking-china-as-the-world-s-most-polluted-country/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The situation with Tibet has to change. China is one of the last huge dictatorships, holding on to these colonies, provinces. That has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-situation-with-tibet-has-to-change-china-is-one-of-the-last-huge/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The remarkable thing about the Chinese is that they've operated differently than the Russians, the Iranians, and the North Koreans. By and large, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/the-remarkable-thing-about-the-chinese-is-that-they-ve-operated/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) [Browse all 3,827 China quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "China, Russia, Iran and other adversaries each pose a threat to our elections, and the Trump administration seeks to counter all of those threats in a serious, professional and apolitical fashion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert C. 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