Tim Scott brought his optimism to Iowa: "The drug of victimhood is a narcotic of the spirit"

was interviewed by Tucker Carlson in Iowa. The presidential candidate participated in the Family Leadership Summit, where he spoke about race, common sense and the war between Russia and Ukraine, always responding with his usual optimistic style. On the latter topic, he referred to the situation as a “genocide” and asserted that degrading the Russian military is in the “vital national interest of the United States.”

Scott jumped on stage in Iowa, where the Republican caucuses have been moved up to Jan. 15, and Carlson welcomed him for an interview in front of the audience. He began by commenting on the current spiritual state of the United States, which, according to him, is in a delicate position.

“We live in a time when there is this perverse force, the radical left, also corporate America, that continues to force this cultural grievance on the American people. And along with cultural grievance comes this drug of victimhood, a narcotic of the spirit,” he said.

Seconds later, he used himself as an example that one can prosper if one puts one’s mind to it and that this feeling of constant conflict with the other is unnecessary. “I want to stand in the gap and say that the truth of my life disapproves of the lies of the radical forces that believe we must be in constant conflict with one another,” he added.

“Degrading the Russian military is in the vital national interest of the United States”

Carlson later asked him about sending 3,000 reservists to Europe, to which the senator replied that he does not want American soldiers to get involved in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

“America’s national vital interest is degrading the Russian military. When we degrade the Russian military, we make sure that our home front is safer, and that our NATO allied partners that would cause us to send soldiers over is safe,” said the presidential candidate, who is currently fifth in the polls.

“When we have the land contiguous with Ukraine safe, we keep our American soldiers at home, and our primary objective should only be to engage with America’s vital national interests. And unfortunately, President Biden has no ability to understand and appreciate what that looks like,” he added.

Scott sought to distinguish himself as the common sense candidate, stating that those who can work should work, those who take out a loan should pay it back, and those who commit a violent crime should go to jail. He also added that men should compete against other men in sports and that the southern border is the country's main national security issue.

The Republican took advantage of his visit to Iowa to visit Governor Kim Reynolds, whom he described as “a remarkable individual with an amazing story of hard work, grit and determination, and is one of the strongest governors we’ve ever seen.”

The photo between the two was a clear message to Donald Trump, who criticized Reynolds for being close to the Ron DeSantis campaign this week. As The New York Times reported, the former president privately complained about Reynolds’ support for the Florida governor, particularly given Trump’s endorsement of her candidacy in 2018.