My take on it is - that he was saying in an awkward way - because we are a super power we get pulled into other wars whether we like it or not.
(it galls me to say that I understood what he meant)
I have to say I agree with your interpretation. That's what it struck me as. No reason to try to stretch to come up with treasonous interpretations for everything he says.
He said what he said. I don’t think he wants the US to be a superpower. It isn’t fair to the rest of the world.
FUBO
Many here say the first phrase modifies the next one, and you are saying he skips that phrase and modifies the following one. You are kind to offer him the benefit of the doubt. But after seeing the guy in action for a while now, it’s pretty hard to extend that doubt. strong national defense, rugged individualism, free market capitalism, representative democracy, etc. he’s really not in favor of too much that we built up these last few hundred years. So...it really is a flip of the coin which phrase “whether we like it or not” modifies. Sad.