United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), who serves on the Senate Appropriations, Banking, and Foreign Relations Committees and is a former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, appeared on Fox Business’s “Mornings with Maria” to discuss several topics including Japan’s parliamentary elections, funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the SAVE Act, and digital asset legislation.
Discussing Japan’s recent election and President Trump’s endorsement of Prime Minister Ochi, Hagerty said: “It’s an incredible show of strength at a very important time. President [Donald] Trump is hugely popular in Japan. The fact that he endorsed Prime Minister Ochi ahead of this election, I think, showed great unity. I think it gave her a huge lift. And now she has a super majority in the lower house there in Japan that’s going to give her the momentum and the impetus to make needed economic reforms, and importantly, to step up defense expenditures to levels well beyond anything that we’ve seen in the past. It’s going to strengthen our reliance and our relationship there with Japan and in the region. Who’s not going to like this? Well, clearly the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], North Korea, and Russia. But for our allies in the region, Japan is taking an even stronger posture. Their economy is moving. Look at the Nikkei. The Nikkei hit 57,000, a new record there as well. Think about what that says about the overall confidence in the market to come. I’m feeling very good about our relationship with Japan, and Prime Minister Taichi is coming to America in March to visit with President Trump. I’m looking forward to supporting that effort as well.”
On Japan’s increased defense spending and regional cooperation efforts, Hagerty stated: “That’s very clear, the direction that she’s going to take it. The Japanese already made the commitment to eventually get to two percent of their GDP. That’s a doubling from where they were. Prime Minister Abe always wanted to do this, but Japan has watched very closely China’s aggression in the Taiwan Strait. Public sentiment has shifted. The Japanese public is clearly for a stronger defense right now. So I think what you’ll see–and Ambassador Glass, my successor there in Tokyo, is working very hard toward this end–is Japan’s going to continue to step up their defense posture and, more important, their interoperability with the United States, with South Korea, with Australia, with our allies in the region, to see more joint exercises and more coordination. That’s going to increase our forces there and multiply our capabilities in something beyond what we’ve ever seen before in the region.”
Regarding Democrats’ approach on DHS funding negotiations amid threats of a shutdown over policy disagreements on immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), Hagerty commented: “Senator [John] Fetterman mentioned there are a lot of requests here. If we were to abide by all of them, we would basically turn the United States of America into a sanctuary nation. That’s where they’re headed with this. That’s not going to happen…The Department of Homeland Security performs very important roles…Transportation in America will come to a halt when TSA [Transportation Security Administration] gets defunded…FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] is a critical aspect of addressing [ice storms]. They want to defund it…The one thing this will not do is it will not defund ICE [United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement], because we already funded ICE in the big reconciliation bill that we did last year in 2025…Will there be some movement on this? I think there will be…if politics overwhelm Democrats they may not be listening…I’d hate to see government shut down…because there are so many other aspects of America’s wellbeing that Democrats are willing put at risk just make point.”
He also criticized Democratic leadership regarding shutdown tactics: “I think [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer thrives on chaos…They’re not winning from policy standpoint…all they can do is throw temper tantrums like this.”
Addressing voter ID laws through support for the SAVE Act—legislation he co-sponsors—Hagerty said: “This is fundamental threshold question…Democrats don’t want people identify themselves…the blue states are ones trying do away voter ID…this hugely popular issue across America…this fundamental issue as well…not about states’ rights administer determine time place elections…it about demonstrating you’re American citizen vote…every time non-American citizen votes disenfranchising citizens who do vote entitled vote…it pathetic turning this…but again all about power…not about policy…about shifting power their lane…when try project as did federalizing elections look no further than top priority legislation when had triumvirate–they had House Senate White House–H.R 1…the number one bill was come nationalize everything respect elections so could do away voter ID mail-out ballots everybody register 16-year-olds felons willing violate Constitution 14th Amendment just get power…the SAVE Act makes complete sense most Americans…I think what we’re going see healthy debate…and Democrats again have lot egg face trying argue one…I’m one co-sponsors bill United States Senate…the House going pass it…we’re keep pressing.”
On digital asset regulation following passage of GENIUS Act—a law regulating stablecoins—Hagerty explained ongoing negotiations: “This area where already litigated GENIUS Act…I worked night day as did my team get across finish line…the President signed into law Treasury process implementing it…getting wonderful feedback foreign jurisdictions want follow GENIUS Act want compliant direction should moving increase uptake utilization GENIUS Act regulated stablecoins not push offshore players have come scene later trying change aspects Genius Act moving forward market structure bills been working on saw happened Ag Committee here Senate party line vote every Democrat voted against moving forward…but Banking Committee real tough lifting happen terms rewards stablecoins et cetera those negotiations ongoing got deal DHS funding issue just raised take us through Friday maybe longer depending whether Senator Fetterman correct soon over turn attention back hope able come rational policy makes sense America make certain these stablecoins stay utilized here under regulatory regime not go off foreign jurisdiction where no regulatory oversight whatsoever goal certainly not re-litigate legislation agreed signed passed historic bipartisan margin don’t see need just need come table agreement.”
Senator Hagerty represents Tennessee as a Republican member of Congress according his official website. He holds positions on several committees including Banking; Foreign Relations; Appropriations; Rules & Administration as listed online. His office operates multiple district locations throughout Tennessee—including Chattanooga Knoxville Tri-Cities—and provides constituent services such as casework assistance federal agency support according official resources.
