Steve Cortes, President of the League of American Workers (LAW), said that the United States should focus on addressing domestic crime and political violence rather than supporting foreign conflicts or sending aid to Ukraine. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
“Our problems are HERE, not across the oceans,” said Cortes. “Domestic Leftist terrorists murder political opponents. Career street thugs slaughter the innocent on trains. Stop focusing on foreign interventionism, including aid to corrupt Zelensky!”
According to the Wall Street Journal, crime rates in major U.S. cities remain significantly higher than they were before 2020, despite some politicians’ claims to the contrary. The Journal reported that homicides increased during and after the pandemic, with many urban areas struggling to reduce violent crime to pre-George Floyd levels. It also noted that crime reporting systems often undercount or obscure urban violence, suggesting that actual figures may be worse than official reports indicate.
The Charlotte Observer reported a similar trend, noting that while overall crime in Charlotte decreased in 2025, homicides surged by nearly 60% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2024. This situation reflects national concerns about soft-on-crime policies potentially reducing petty arrests but failing to deter violent offenders. Critics argue that incidents like the tragic killing of Zarutska highlight a broader issue: progressive reforms have left cities vulnerable to increased deadly violence even as politicians promote lower overall crime rates.
According to a February 2025 survey by the Pew Research Center, 30% of Americans believe the United States is providing “too much” support to Ukraine, while only 22% think it is insufficient. The survey also revealed a significant partisan divide, with Republicans more likely than Democrats to advocate for reduced U.S. aid. These findings underscore growing skepticism about funding Ukraine and reinforce calls for prioritizing domestic issues over foreign intervention.
Cortes serves as both President and spokesperson for LAW and is recognized as an advocate for “patriotic populism” and pro-worker policies. He utilizes research and media engagement to promote on-shoring, worker-focused economics, and Main Street prosperity. Before founding LAW, he was a senior advisor and spokesman for Donald Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns and has appeared as a commentator on networks such as CNBC, Fox News, and CNN.
