Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) delivered a blistering critique of U.S. adversaries on Wednesday, comparing the leadership of Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea to a "colony of reptiles." The remarks came during an interview on Fox News's Will Cain Show, just as President Trump prepared to host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a high-stakes state visit.
Kennedy was asked about Trump's meeting with Iranian officials on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, which took place Tuesday. The president also welcomed Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, rolling out the red carpet for the first official state visit by a Chinese leader in over a decade.
"I think that the people running Iran are reptiles," Kennedy said. "And they're part of a colony of reptiles: China, North Korea, Russia and, as I said, Iran. The chief reptile, the quarterback, is President Xi in China. You can't trust any of them."
The Louisiana Republican argued that these nations share more similarities than differences, saying, "It's like the same hooker in different dresses. They all lie like timeshare salesmen. You can't trust them. I wouldn't turn my back on any of them, even if I thought and knew they were two days dead."
Kennedy also defended the Trump administration's military operations against Iran, echoing the president's claim that the U.S. has "degraded Iran substantially" and achieved its objectives. He asserted that Iran's anger stems from Trump's aggressive posture, saying, "They're angry because President Trump has ripped Iran a new ashtray."
The senator singled out the Strait of Hormuz as the remaining flashpoint, arguing that Iran's closure of the critical oil passageway—through which roughly 20 percent of global oil flows—could be countered by China. He suggested that the U.S. should not bear the burden alone, saying, "At some point, the president's going to have to decide whether having achieved all of our objectives—it's time to come home and let China and Russia and North Korea and Europe and all the other countries that refuse to help take a crack at it because they're going to pay the price of a closed strait even more than America."
Trump's meeting with the Iranian delegation lasted three hours and included his son-in-law Jared Kushner. In his address to the U.N., Trump outlined two options for ending the conflict: a new nuclear deal or "annihilation" for Iran. On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the General Assembly that his country would not surrender its nuclear program, insisting, "We will never bow our head or bend at the knee."
The Xi visit comes amid ongoing tensions over trade, technology, and Taiwan. Trump and Xi are scheduled for high-stakes talks Thursday before a state dinner at the White House. Both leaders agreed to ease their trade war last October, but no breakthrough emerged at their May summit in Beijing. As part of the diplomatic thaw, the U.S. and China have floated tariff cuts on nonessential goods ahead of the summit.
However, the lavish welcome for Xi has drawn criticism from Republican hawks. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on the Senate floor Tuesday, "Had the White House asked me for advice, I would have suggested the president not invite Xi Jinping to Washington for such a lavish welcome here in the United States, based on all of the troubling issues we have with President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party."
Kennedy's remarks reflect a broader skepticism among some lawmakers about engaging with authoritarian regimes, even as the Trump administration pursues diplomatic overtures. The president's critics, including those worried about delays in Taiwan military aid, argue that such engagement may not yield concrete concessions.
