--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe in a America first foreign…" description: "\"I believe in a America first foreign policy, that far too often President [Barack] Obama and Hillary Clinton - and, unfortunately, more than a few Repu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/ted-cruz-487_america_i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-pol_2606987.jpg" --- # I believe in a America first foreign policy, that far too… ![“I believe in a America first foreign policy, that far too often President [Barack] Obama and Hillary Clinton - and, unfortunately, more than a few Republicans - have gotten distracted from the central focus of keeping this country safe.” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/ted-cruz-487_america_i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-pol_2606987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/ted-cruz-487_america_i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-pol_2606987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/ted-cruz-487_america_i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-pol_2606987.jpg) > “I believe in a America first foreign policy, that far too often President \[Barack\] Obama and Hillary Clinton - and, unfortunately, more than a few Republicans - have gotten distracted from the central focus of keeping this country safe.” [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A foreign policy that prioritizes national interests is essential, yet political distractions often shift focus away from security. **In simple terms:** Put national security first, avoid distractions. Key Takeaway Stay focused on core security goals. Themes foreign policy national interest politics Mood concerned determined Type political ideological When to use this quote - policy debates - legislative decisions - public discourse Key Concepts America first distracted leadership security focus Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders stay true to security goals? - What distractions most threaten focus? A Different Perspective Political realities may force compromises on ideal policies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Foreign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-foreign-560776/) [Barack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinton/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Distracted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distracted/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Foreign policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Policy Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-far-1611624/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President barack obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-barack-obama/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Unfortunately Republicans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunately-republicans-1994478/) ## Related quotes > [U.S. energy policy is about far more than jobs and the economy. It is a critical component of our foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hurd/u-s-energy-policy-is-about-far-more-than-jobs-and-the-economy-it-is-a/) [Will Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hurd/) > [I'm confident that America's foreign policy rebalance to the region will endure beyond my presidency because it's in the national interest of the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-confident-that-america-s-foreign-policy-rebalance-to-the-region/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [America is far less safe and the world is far less stable than when Obama made the decision to pub Hillary Clinton in charge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/america-is-far-less-safe-and-the-world-is-far-less-stable-than-when/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The Obama administration has turned a blind eye to radical Islam since before they came to office. If you look at everything that's transpired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/the-obama-administration-has-turned-a-blind-eye-to-radical-islam/) [Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/) > [America's foreign policy supports freedom, democracy, and human dignity for all mankind, and we make no apologies for it. The opportunity society that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/america-s-foreign-policy-supports-freedom-democracy-and-human-dignity/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Unfortunately, Republicans repeatedly waste taxpayer time and money, and even shut down the government, in efforts to repeal ACA. We simply cannot afford this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/unfortunately-republicans-repeatedly-waste-taxpayer-time-and-money/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [Unfortunately, Republicans are too often tone-deaf to the concerns of black Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/unfortunately-republicans-are-too-often-tone-deaf-to-the-concerns-of/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [There's a question of building trust, and I think that President Barack Obama offers trust. Personally, I think he is a transparent individual with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-correa/there-s-a-question-of-building-trust-and-i-think-that-president/) [Rafael Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-correa/) > [ The Republican candidates clashed on terrorism, immigration and foreign policy in their fifth debate.They all said President \[Barack\] Obama and Hillary Clinton have not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-montagne/the-republican-candidates-clashed-on-terrorism-immigration-and/) [Renee Montagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-montagne/) > [America always seemed to me this foreign land that I imagined I could escape to if I needed to get away - and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-garfield/america-always-seemed-to-me-this-foreign-land-that-i-imagined-i-could/) [Andrew Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-garfield/) > [Over the last 10-15 years, you've seen soccer finally start to grow at a fast pace, start to get the recognition it deserves, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-reyna/over-the-last-10-15-years-you-ve-seen-soccer-finally-start-to-grow-at/) [Claudio Reyna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-reyna/) > [The greatest threat to America is not foreign terrorists, its domestic morons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fugelsang/the-greatest-threat-to-america-is-not-foreign-terrorists-its-domestic/) [John Fugelsang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fugelsang/) > [As Senator, I will always put America First and never support an 'America Last' foreign policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/as-senator-i-will-always-put-america-first-and-never-support-an/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) > [Maybe it's understandable what a history of failures America's foreign policy has been. We are, after all, a country full of people who came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/maybe-it-s-understandable-what-a-history-of-failures-america-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In America as a foreign actor it's very difficult to get into main roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udo-kier/in-america-as-a-foreign-actor-it-s-very-difficult-to-get-into-main/) [Udo Kier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udo-kier/) ## More by Ted Cruz > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Donald Trump threatened to file a defamation suit against me for running a TV ad that consisted only entirely of his own words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-threatened-to-file-a-defamation-suit-against-me-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The immigrant experience of all of us is what makes us Americans, because we value in our DNA liberty and opportunity above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-immigrant-experience-of-all-of-us-is-what-makes-us-americans/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It is my hope that all of the Republicans who recognize that nominating a candidate who agrees with Hillary Clinton on a host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/it-is-my-hope-that-all-of-the-republicans-who-recognize-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Senate Majority Leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, 'If you defy Congress, if you defy the Constitution, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-senate-majority-leader-has-the-unilateral-ability-to-stand-up-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You can't get to a balanced budget and begin to pay down debt and thus create jobs in this country if you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-can-t-get-to-a-balanced-budget-and-begin-to-pay-down-debt-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [That's what actually caused me to run for office is, you know, my family story, the experience of growing up in a family where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/that-s-what-actually-caused-me-to-run-for-office-is-you-know-my/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/when-you-subpoena-one-pastor-you-subpoena-every-pastor/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/imagine-a-legal-immigration-system-that-welcomes-and-celebrates-those/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The court follows elite opinion, not public opinion. And Democratic leaders in Congress and Republican leaders in Congress follow elite opinion as well. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-court-follows-elite-opinion-not-public-opinion-and-democratic/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) [Explore all 523 Ted Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [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/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe in a America first foreign policy, that far too often President [Barack] Obama and Hillary Clinton - and, unfortunately, more than a few Republicans - have gotten distracted from the central focus of keeping this country safe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ted Cruz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-policy-that-far-too-often/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-policy-that-far-too-often/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/ted-cruz-487_america_i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-pol_2606987.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/ted-cruz-487_america_i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-pol_2606987.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/ted-cruz-487_america_i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-pol_2606987.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe in a America first foreign policy, that far too often President [Barack] Obama and Hillary Clinton…” — Ted Cruz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ted Cruz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe in a America first...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-policy-that-far-too-often/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-believe-in-a-america-first-foreign-policy-that-far-too-often/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```