Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said he would defend Taiwan from a potential invasion from China until the U.S. gains independence on manufacturing semiconductors, something he says will happen by 2028 if he’s elected president. 

Appearing on ‘The Hugh Hewitt Show,’ Ramaswamy was asked how he’d go about rebuilding the weakened U.S. Navy, to which he responded by highlighting the country’s need of semiconductors.

‘The top U.S. interest today where our naval capacity’s shortages actually leave us vulnerable is indeed in the case of Taiwan,’ Ramaswamy said Monday.

‘We are dependent on a tiny island nation off the southeast coast of China for our entire modern way of life in the United States of America. I think many Americans need to internalize that fact. We would not live a modern lifestyle if it were not for the global semiconductor supply chain, specifically leading-edge advanced semiconductors that come from Taiwan. That’s a great vulnerability for us, especially as we enter a period where I believe that China is likely to make a move to annex Taiwan in the next decade. I think that’s a real threat that we face. And our naval shortcoming or naval capacity shortcoming is one of the big vulnerabilities that makes that more likely to happen.’

Radio host Hugh Hewitt pressed Ramaswamy on whether he’d ‘fire the first shot’ against China if they were aiming to invade Taiwan. The GOP hopeful responded by suggesting it depends on whether the U.S. has already gained ‘semiconductor independence’ from Taiwan. 

‘So, one of my objectives is by the end of my first term, I believe I will lead us towards semiconductor independence. During that time, I’m going to be very clear, move from strategic ambiguity in Taiwan to strategic clarity, where I am crystal clear with China that you do not make a move on that island because I refuse to put China in a position to hold an economic gun to our head,’ Ramaswamy said. ‘We’ll take destroyers from the group we have in Japan, take one per month, move it through that Taiwan Strait. … This is something that actually will send a strong signal to China they will not take the risk of making that move, especially if they know that the U.S. is only biding our time until we have semiconductor independence. That’s where strategic clarity actually helps us.’

Ramaswamy also pointed to India as being a military ally in the region to defend Taiwan, even floating the idea of ‘putting a gun in every Taiwanese household’ and ‘training them how to use it.’

‘That’s what I’m going to do, Hugh, to make sure that we don’t put ourselves in that position,’ Ramaswamy told the host. ‘China will have no reason to aggress towards Taiwan between now and the end of my first term in 2028 if we show we’re serious about it, but by being strategically clear that that commitment changes after we’ve achieved semiconductor independence. Now put yourself in [Chinese President] Xi Jinping’s shoes. He has no interest in taking that risk.’

He continued, ‘And the truth of the matter is, there are two reasons why China wants to annex Taiwan. One is to squat on the semiconductor supply chain, so they can exert leverage over the United States of America. That’s not happening on my watch. I take a firm position on that. But the second reason why is that they have unfinished nationalistic business dating back to their civil war in 1949. And if that’s the sole basis for Xi Jinping going after Taiwan, after we have semiconductor independence, then you know what, I am not going to send our sons and daughters to die over that conflict. And that’s consistent with my position on Ukraine as well.’

When asked if China should ‘draw the conclusion’ based on his stance that he’s willing to ‘sink Chinese ships’ upon an invasion of Taiwan prior to 2028, Ramaswamy said, ‘We are going to go to full lengths to make sure that you do not mess with Taiwan,’ reiterating military might in the region but adding ‘that commitment is only as far as 2028, by which point I will have led the United States of America to achieve semiconductor independence. And we will not take the risk of war that risks American lives.’

‘What’s clear to me is that you are saying, ‘I will go to war, including attacking the Chinese mainland, if you attack before semiconductor independence, and afterwards, you can have Taiwan. So, if you just wait until 2029, you may have Taiwan. Is that clear?” Hewitt said. ‘I mean, that’s what you’re saying: ‘I’ll go to war until 2028.”

‘Hugh, I want to be the next president, so I expect to be the president inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025. So, I’m wearing that hat when I’m choosing my words very carefully right now,’ Ramaswamy responded. ‘And I’m being very clear. Xi Jinping should not mess with Taiwan until we have achieved semiconductor independence, until the end of my first term, when I will lead us there. And after that, our commitments to Taiwan and our commitments to be willing to go to military conflict will change after that because that’s rationally in our self-interest. That is honest. That is true. And that is credible.’

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, is the No. 1 most attacked presidential candidate in the race so far.

DeSantis is solidly in the No. 2 spot in the GOP primary, sitting squarely behind former President Trump in the race for the White House.

However, while DeSantis sits at No. 2 in the GOP polls, he is No. 1 across all candidates when targeted by negative independent expenditures.

Independent expenditures are the costs paid by campaigns to target other candidates in a race, typically funding opposition research.

Currently, DeSantis has endured over $20.2 million in negative independent expenditure spending.

Compared to Presidents Biden and Trump, DeSantis is being hit more than both of them by millions of dollars.

Biden has taken the second-most brunt of negative spending, clocking in at $9.2 million,

Trump sits just below Biden at over $8.1 million in negative independent expenditures.

DeSantis campaign communications director Andrew Romeo told Fox News Digital that ‘Republicans, Democrats, and the legacy media are united in their full-on assault of Ron DeSantis because he is the only candidate who can beat Joe Biden.’

‘We know they will never call him the winner and we fully expect the onslaught of attacks to reach a new level on the debate stage next week, but taking arrows on behalf of the American people is nothing new for DeSantis,’ Romeo said.

‘It doesn’t matter how much they come after him, Ron DeSantis will never back down,’ he added.

As DeSantis and former President Donald Trump compete for the GOP nomination in 2024, a new survey suggests that the Florida governor has a greater chance at beating President Biden among Virginians next cycle.

A Virginia Commonwealth University poll found that in a hypothetical 2024 matchup between the Republican nominee and Biden, who will be 82 at the time of the next election, respondents favored DeSantis over Trump.

In a 2022 rematch, 40% of respondents said they would vote for Trump, while 43% said they would vote for Biden.

When the competing candidates were DeSantis and Biden, the margin tightened, with both locking in 41% support.

The majority of respondents, 54%, said they disapprove of how Biden is currently handling his job as president.

Fox News Digital’s Joe Schoffstall contributed reporting.

Robert F. Kennedy, who spent the weekend campaigning in Iowa, said in an interview he would support a ban on abortions on pregnancies three months or later if elected, according to reports, though his team later clarified the candidate’s statement.

NBC reported that Kennedy made the statement during an interview at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday.

‘I believe a decision to abort a child should be up to the women during the first three months of life,’ the Democratic presidential candidate said.

When asked if it meant he would sign a ban at 15 or 21 weeks, he said yes.

‘Once a child is viable outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the child,’ Kennedy added. ‘I’m for medical freedom. Individuals are able to make their own choices.’

President Biden’s challenger’s stance on abortion went to the beat of a different drum from most of the Democratic Party. The Supreme Court, on June 24, 2022, overturned Roe v. Wade, overturning the longstanding constitutional right to abortion access that had been established. 

On Sunday evening, Kennedy’s team issued a statement, clarifying the candidate’s position on abortion.

‘Today, Mr. Kennedy misunderstood a question posed to him by a NBC reporter in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the Iowa State Fair,’ the statement read. ‘Mr. Kennedy’s position on abortion is that it is always the woman’s right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion.’

During the interview, Kennedy said he would not have voted in support of the Inflation Reduction Act, which is considered a major win for the Democratic Party.

He reportedly answered a question about the hundreds of billions of dollars going toward fighting climate change, saying, ‘They say that this is fighting climate change; it’s actually doing the opposite.’

Kennedy agreed during the interview that former President Trump lost the 2020 election, and when asked if he thought Trump attempted to overturn the results, Kennedy reportedly said ‘it seems like he was trying to overturn it.’

Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, high-profile vaccine critic, and scion of arguably the nation’s most famous family political dynasty, is a long-shot for winning the Democratic Party’s support as the top pick to run for president.

In fact, the DNC is fully backing Biden as the president campaigns for a second four-year term in the White House, and at its winter meeting in February, it unanimously passed a resolution to commit its ‘full and complete support’ for the reelection of Biden and Harris. 

The DNC has said there will be no primary debates between Biden and his two nationally known challengers, Marianne Williamson, a bestselling self-help author and speaker, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the environmental lawyer and high-profile vaccine critic who’s a scion of arguably the nation’s most famous family political dynasty.

Liberal cities and states are continuing to sound the alarm over a surge of migrants into their jurisdictions. Some are going so far as to call on the federal government to declare a state of emergency, while maintaining welcoming rhetoric to all who come across the border.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey last week declared a state of emergency ‘due to rapid and unabating increases in the number of families with children and pregnant people – many of them newly arriving migrants and refugees – living within the state but without the means to secure safe shelter in our communities.’

The state currently has more than 20,000 families in its state shelter system and costs are around $45 million a month, her office said.

Massachusetts had first encountered migrant-related controversy last year when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent migrants to liberal holiday destination Martha’s Vineyard, sparking outrage from liberals, and counter-accusations of hypocrisy from conservatives when they were promptly bussed off the island.

In her letter to the Department of Homeland Security appealing for help, including expedited work authorizations for migrants, comprehensive immigration reform and additional financial assistance for the state, Healey noted that migrants were drawn to Massachusetts due to its liberal policies.

‘Many of these families are migrants to Massachusetts, drawn here because we are and proudly have been a beacon to those in need,’ she wrote in a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Since then, officials have called for residents to ‘consider hosting a family’ in an extra room or suite in their home. 

Later in the week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams backed Healey, and issued his own dire warnings of the impact that the nearly 100,000 migrants who have hit the city since 2022 is having. He estimated it will cost the city $12 billion by 2025 if things do not change.

‘We are also asking the federal government to declare a state of emergency. Additionally, the federal government needs to provide more funding to match the reality of the cost on the ground,’ he said. ‘Finally, we need the federal government to lead a decompression strategy at the border so cities and states across the nation can do their part to shelter asylum seekers.’

He later suggested that the crisis could ‘decimate’ the city if nothing was done, and noted the plight of other liberal cities that were facing similar migrant waves.

‘New York City is the economic engine of this entire state and country. If you decimate this city, you’re going to decimate the foundation of what’s happening. Look at Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and now hear the governor of Massachusetts,’ he said.

He has also remained firm on the city’s welcoming attitude to foreign nationals, noting that many Americans can trace their heritage to immigrants who came in via Ellis Island. 

‘This is the magic of this city. People of all backgrounds living together in one place. New York City remains a beacon for all who come to our shores,’ he said.

Both New York City and the state of New York have sought federal aid over the wave of migrants coming in, some by their own means and others being bussed in from Texas, which launched an effort in 2022 to send migrants to ‘sanctuary’ cities to help relieve the burden on the Lone Star State.

‘This is a hurricane hitting New York City and New York state,’ Gov. Kathy Hochul said in May.

Lawmakers at the border have bristled at some of the requests for funding, noting that the numbers of migrants reaching those cities is dwarfed by the hundreds of thousands hitting border states each month since the crisis began in 2021.

In Chicago, then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared a state of emergency in May and said the city’s resources are ‘now stretched to the breaking point.’ That has also caused consternation among the city’s residents, with some complaining of the disruptive behaviors of those in shelters, as well as plans to move migrants into a community gym. 

Earlier this year, the city of Denver placed a two-week limit on shelter stays as it faced a surge of migrants over the winter – with Colorado’s governor clashing with the mayors of Chicago and New York over since-ended moves to bus migrants to them.

‘These actions do not live up to the values of a proclaimed welcoming state and should stop immediately,’ Mayors Adams and Lightfoot wrote.

Gov. Jared Polis’ office had defended the buses, saying that about 70% of migrants arriving in Denver did not have Colorado as a final destination. As a result, the state said it was working with nonprofits to ‘provide intake, processing, and transportation coordination to help migrants safely reach their desired final destination.’

‘People fleeing violence and oppression in search of a better life for themselves and their families deserve our respect, not political games, and we are grateful we have been able to assist migrants to reach their final destination,’ Polis said in a statement. 

Most recently, California officials objected to moves by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to fly migrants into the sanctuary state — accusing the state of kidnapping and exploiting migrants. 

The accusations, however, were shrugged off by DeSantis, who said it was right that liberal cities bore the brunt of the crisis.

‘I don’t think we should have any of this. But if there’s a policy to have an open border then I think the sanctuary jurisdictions should be the ones that have to bear that,’ he said. ‘We’re not a sanctuary in Florida.’

A former senator’s explosive claims about President Biden’s behavior toward his wife have reignited the long-running debate about the president’s controversial treatment of women and girls.

Former Sen. Scott Brown claimed on the ‘Burn Barrel Podcast’ that he had to give Biden a strong warning to back off his wife during his swearing in ceremony several years ago.

‘I told him I’d kick the s— out — I told him to stop, so yes,’ Brown chuckled. 

The former senator, who later served in the Trump administration as Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, was reluctant to discuss the ‘old news,’ but after being prompted to elaborate, he recalled the moment calling out Biden ‘to his face.’

‘Yes, he didn’t act the way I thought he should, and we called him on it and that’s it,’ he responded.

The incident occurred in 2010, according to Brown, when then-Vice President Biden posed for photos with Brown and his wife, Gail Huff Brown, at the U.S. Capitol. Photographers snapped photos at the time showing Biden’s arm behind Huff Brown’s back, the New York Post reported. 

Brown’s account came after he was asked about the public’s perception of the president following controversies surrounding his previously unacknowledged granddaughter.

‘This thing with his granddaughter really stuck. Also, I think people are irked out about all the hair sniffing and things. Women are skeeved out by that stuff and he’s not a good guy. You know him,’ podcast host Tom Shattuck offered to Brown.

The former senator acknowledged he did know Biden and ‘spent quite a bit of time with him’ and ‘enjoyed his company’ in years past, but he did not recognize him as the same person he sees now on television. 

Biden’s interactions with women and young girls have been a point of criticism ever since eight women came forward in 2020 to accuse him of sexual misconduct and inappropriate touching.

In July, Biden raised eyebrows after he appeared to nibble at the shoulder of a startled young Finnish girl during his departure from Helsinki, according to video taken as he greeted embassy staff members and their families before boarding Air Force One.

The video showed Biden leaning into the girl, who was being held by a woman who appeared to be her mother, and placing his mouth on her shoulder as he nibbled lightly. The girl appeared frightened and later turned away when Biden tried to give her a peck on the head.

In June, a clip went viral showing actress Eva Longoria taking the president’s hands off her waist during a White House film screening.

In October, Biden was ripped on social media for telling a young girl not to have a serious relationship until she turns 30.

During a speech to the National Education Association a month earlier, Biden left people disturbed and confused following a cryptic remark about a friendship he had with a 12-year-old girl when he was 30.

In 2021, Biden made what some referred to as a ‘creepy’ comment about a young girl looking 19 ‘with her legs crossed’ during a speech to military families in Virginia ahead of Memorial Day.

On another occasion years earlier, Biden discussed his younger days serving as a lifeguard at a pool in Delaware, but oddly described how children would rub his wet leg hair.

One of the most famous instances of Biden acting awkwardly around children was in 2015, while serving as vice president, when he oddly whispered into the ear of Sen. Chris Coons’ daughter during his swearing in ceremony for another Senate term.

GOP presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis’s team highlighted several awkward instances in a video in June, declaring, ‘Keep your hands off our kids.’

The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News’ Brandon Gillespie, Kristine Parks, Kyle Morris, Gabriel Hays, Joseph A. Wulfsohn, Ronn Blitzer and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.