Trump is reinstating the ‘basics’ of the American Dream, Rep. Rich McCormick tells The Lion

Ahead of the State of the Union speech, Rep. Rich McCormick called President Donald Trump’s policies the “basics” of the American Dream: stable taxes and interest rates, support for families and seniors, pro-business policy and wage growth outpacing inflation.

“We believe in the power of one. The ultimate minority is the individual,” the Republican from Georgia told The Lion’s Chris Stigall. “Nothing else matters after that. It’s all regulation and burden. The government’s not supposed to be your burden. It’s supposed to be your benefactor.”

McCormick, a decorated military veteran and emergency room physician, shared his insight on a range of issues, including military standards, U.S. foreign policy, the economy and Trump himself.

“When have you ever seen a president more active in a single year, especially their first year, than President Trump this year?” the former Marine Corps and Navy officer said, previewing the State of the Union speech. “He’s been crazy. I mean, every day, executive orders massively impacting the economy, our ability to obtain resources abroad, our competitiveness against other countries, tariffs, you name it.”

He highlighted initiatives where Trump strengthened the economy, secured the border, reduced crime, cut deficits and expanded domestic energy production.

However, with over 20 years of military service, McCormick emphasized the importance of maintaining high physical fitness standards in the armed forces.

“I’m curious to know, as we talk about this Secretary of War…Pete Hegseth,” Stigall said, “I don’t think I’ve talked to you since the new standards were rolled out and implemented, everyone from top to bottom to leadership, all the way down to the first man enlisted, has to be able to meet certain physical fitness standards.”

The congressman animatedly praised the recent implementation of the new fitness requirements for military personnel, stating such challenges foster excellence, readiness and preparation for war, which should be the normal standard for a warrior.

“People in the military want a challenge,” McCormick said of Marine Corps standards.​ “You earn the eagle, globe and anchor [emblem on the Marine Corps uniform]. You want to be challenged in life – that is your driving force.”

The congressman noted a shift in readiness under the current administration will raise standards and expectations to help better prepare our fighters for success.

“But you know what your kids will do when you expect more?” he asked. “They’ll do more. Kids with the greatest expectations are the most successful – not the best test scores, not the best grades, but those you expect the most from are the most successful.”

McCormick also expressed optimism about the military’s ability to attract recruits. He emphasized the importance of meritocracy in fostering unity and strength within the armed forces – units expected to fight and keep America safe.

“The Secretary of War is preparing us for war,” the congressman said. “This is not going to be a war of words. This is going to be physical upon physical. This is where the hardened people of our society will fight for everybody else. You want warriors, not pacifists.”

High standards diminish the differences between individuals and lift them up based on achievement and shared sacrifice, he noted.

“People feel like you can actually achieve something based on meritocracy, not based on the color of your skin, not based on your gender or your affiliation,” McCormick said.

He added context from his own experience.

“We’re in the Marine Corps together,” he explained. “We have shades of green. We all bleed red. What matters is you got my back. I got your back. We’re a family. We eat together, we pray together, we live together. When you’re having a bad day, I encourage you. That’s all that matters. That’s what people want in the military.”

Regarding foreign policy, McCormick said confronting China on Taiwan is important strategically, not just because of geography.

“Taiwan produces 90% of the advanced AI chips in the world,” he noted.

The congressman then wondered how Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, wrangled an invite to the Munich Security Conference where she infamously fumbled a question on Taiwan, freezing for nearly a minute.

“She has no policy expertise,” he said. “She has no policy experience, and it showed. She was talking gibberish. It’s not that I think she’s an evil person, but obviously not educated on that. But they invited her to speak anyway.”

“Why?” he asked pointedly.

On Iran, McCormick called for a firm stance against the regime, which he described as “the most evil regime that exists in the world right now.”

He advocated for continued sanctions, support for pro-democracy movements and targeted actions to weaken Iran’s ability to fund terrorism.

“They will not stop until we are destroyed,” McCormick warned, highlighting the regime’s support for groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

“There’s no compromise with a society, an autocratic theocracy that thinks that it’s justified to lie, cheat and steal and kill against infidels,” he said. “They are not going to tell us anything that’s truthful because [lying to infidels is] allowed in their religion. They’re allowed by religion to lie to us and to kill us. … That regime needs to be toppled and you will instantly be better off for it.”

Stigall asked about the concern that Iran could turn into a vacuum, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, which kept U.S. troops deployed indefinitely.

“Doesn’t mean you need boots on the ground,” McCormick said. “It doesn’t mean we need to determine the next government but allow them to self-determine.”

He said Persians from all over the world have been “Americanized” with “a more worldly view, and a less religious view,” which would allow the country to be governed more rationally.

“And I think that every American can relate to that,” he concluded.