Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) threw his support behind President Trump's daily military strikes on Iran during a Sunday interview, arguing the administration should maintain pressure and expand operations. Speaking on CBS News's Face the Nation, Kennedy said the president favors the ongoing attacks, which paused over the weekend after nearly two weeks of targeting Iranian infrastructure.
"I think we ought to continue the blockade and starve them out," Kennedy told host Margaret Brennan. "I think we ought to bomb Pickaxe Mountain and try to reach what's underneath it ... The president likes the daily attacks."
Kennedy then invoked a blunt metaphor: "He believes that sometimes you have to kill a few chickens to scare the monkeys." The Louisiana Republican likened Iran's leadership to infamous American criminals Son of Sam and Charles Manson, calling them "more than mildly insane." But he cautioned against a withdrawal, saying the U.S. should not "just cut and run."
"If we can stand the pain of the rising cost of energy, we need to stay the course," Kennedy said. "At least for a few more months. I also don't think we need to send in troops. That's my opinion, for what it's worth."
The renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran effectively scrapped an interim peace deal that had aimed to lower gas prices and lift sanctions. The conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, has consistently polled poorly, raising concerns among Republicans about its impact on voter turnout in the upcoming midterm elections. Economic fears tied to the war could further complicate the party's electoral prospects.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a fellow Louisiana Republican who has been more critical of the war's objectives and the administration's messaging, told CNN on Sunday that a swift end to the conflict "seems unlikely." Cassidy emphasized the need for a fuller national discussion about the path forward. "At this point, I do think there needs to be a fuller national discussion as to how we go forward," he said. "If the president wraps this up quickly — it seems unlikely — but they seem to reassure that it can happen. OK, that's fine."
Cassidy insisted that Congress would need to "trigger that conversation" about the war's future and its aims. His comments echo a growing unease on Capitol Hill over the lack of clear strategy. Cassidy's warning about the war's duration underscores the political risk for Republicans if the conflict drags on.
Both Washington and Tehran have left the door open for talks, but the administration has downplayed ongoing negotiations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that Trump's new policy toward Iran is "a head for an eye," responding to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's description of Tehran's stance as "an eye for an eye." On Sunday, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei dismissed any path toward peace. "Today, as the nations of the world have grown weary of the tyranny and oppression of the US government and the criminal Zionists, who are the destroyers of lives and generations, there remains no path forward except jihad and resistance," he wrote on the social platform X.
The standoff has also drawn attention to broader regional tensions, including the Saudi nuclear deal controversy, which some lawmakers say is intertwined with Iran policy. As the war grinds on, the political fallout is likely to intensify, with both parties jockeying for position ahead of the midterms.
