WAUKESHA, Wisconsin — GOP presidential candidate Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) highlighted President Obama’s weakness regarding foreign negotiations and national safety by having Kevin Hermening – a hostage held in Iran for 444 days until being released during President Reagan’s first day in office – present during his speech.

Walker said America has a president that drew a line in the sand, but allowed it to be crossed.

“A President who called ISIS the JV squad, Yemen a success story and Iran a place we can do business with. Iran…think about that,” Walker said.

Walker said he and his brother used to tie ribbons around the tree in front of their home during the 444 days that 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran—an event that helped usher Ronald Reagan’s surge into the White House over Democrat President Jimmy Carter.

“One of them was Kevin Hermening who grew up down the road in Oak Creek. He was the youngest hostage – a Marine working at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Kevin Hermening is here today,” Walker said.

Walker said that Hermening knows all too well that America shouldn’t be doing business with Iran and that Iran hasn’t changed much since that time.

“Looking ahead, we need to terminate the bad deal with Iran on Day One, put in place crippling economic sanctions and convince our allies to do the same,” Walker promised.