Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana argued Sunday that the United States must stay the course in Iran despite polling that shows most Americans want the conflict brought to a close.
During an appearance on CBSs Face the Nation, Kennedy warned that pulling American forces out of Iran would be a huge, huge mistake, a stance that underscores a growing divide between public opinion and Washingtons foreign-policy establishment, according to the Daily Caller. The senators comments came days after he sharply questioned Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over a $67 billion supplemental request to sustain the war effort during a Senate hearing, signaling that his support for the mission does not extend to writing the administration a blank check.
Host Margaret Brennan pressed Kennedy on whether the administration had agreed to provide him with a classified, detailed briefing on Iran, a key concern as lawmakers weigh the costs and risks of continued engagement. Kennedy declined to describe any such briefing, instead turning his fire on the White Houses public justification for the war and its failure, in his view, to explain the stakes clearly to the American people.
I support the president in Iran. We all need to do a better job messaging, Kennedy said, while also acknowledging the communications challenges posed by the commander in chief himself. Trump, he noted, exists loudly and is not always disciplined in his messaging, a candid assessment that reflects conservative frustration with style even as they back his substance on national security.
Im not saying he should stop talking, Kennedy added, making clear he does not want the president muzzled so much as supplemented. He urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, and Hegseth to [go] out there, either in a speech or in a long press conference, to explain whats going on in Iran, why we went in, why were still there.
Kennedy then turned his attention to Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and other Democrats who are demanding a rapid withdrawal from the Iran theater, a position that has gained traction on the left as war fatigue grows. In characteristically colorful language, he dismissed their approach as dangerously nave and emblematic of a broader progressive reluctance to confront hostile regimes.
Bernie wants to just come home. He wants to turn out the lights, make sure the cats inside, and go to bed, Kennedy said, warning that such a retreat would embolden Tehran and other adversaries. That would be a huge, huge mistake.
Brennan cited a CBS News/YouGov poll conducted July 2224, 2026, showing that 67 percent of Americans believe the U.S. should end the conflict now, while only 33 percent favor continue conflict until Iran gives up more. Kennedy effectively argued that leadership sometimes requires defying short-term public sentiment when core national interests and long-term security are at stake.
I think we ought to tighten the sanctions on the sale of Iranian oil, he said, outlining a strategy of economic pressure rather than capitulation. I think we ought to continue the blockade and starve them out. I think we ought to bomb Pickaxe Mountain [an underground Iranian nuclear facility] and try to reach whats underneath it.
At the same time, Kennedy expressed doubts about the utility of resuming daily airstrikes across Iran, questioning whether such a tempo of operations would alter the calculus of the regimes hardline leadership. He suggested that while force is sometimes necessary, it must be applied with a clear strategic purpose rather than as a show of resolve for its own sake.
The president likes the daily attacks, Kennedy said. He believes that sometimes you have to kill a few chickens to scare the monkeys. I dont think thats going to work with the Iranian leadership. These people are more than mildly insane. Its like dealing with son of Sam or Charles Manson.
The United States paused its bombing campaign on Friday after 13 consecutive days of strikes, The Associated Press reported, a brief respite that has fueled speculation about whether the administration is recalibrating its approach. For hawks like Kennedy, the key question is not whether to pressure Iran, but how to do so in a way that maximizes American leverage while minimizing unnecessary escalation.
Kennedy maintained that U.S. involvement should continue so long as the nation can bear the economic strain, particularly in the form of higher energy prices that hit working families hardest. But I dont think we ought to just cut and run, he said. If we can stand the pain of the rising cost of energy, we need to stay the course, at least for a few more months. I also dont think we need to send in troops. Thats my opinion, for what its worth.
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