For 26 years, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R., Wis.) served as a Navy SEAL across multiple combat deployments. During those missions, Van Orden has served in every country that Iran has either attacked or destabilized during the reign of terror of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Following President Donald Trump’s historic decision to strike at sites across Iran, Van Orden, a member of the House Armed Services Committees, explained that the moves — which led to Khamenei’s death — were necessary.

“For decades, the Iranian regime has fueled terror and violence across the world,” Van Orden explained. “This regime has operated with impunity for far too long, spreading chaos while threatening the security of the United States and our partners. Their hands are stained with the blood of thousands of Americans.”

“It is long past time for the Iranian regime to be held accountable for the terror it has exported and the lives it has taken,” Van Orden continued. “May God bless our troops and grant them strength, wisdom, and courage.”

Van Orden’s staunch backing of Trump comes as the Trump administration has signaled that Van Orden’s reelection is among its top priorities. Vice President JD Vance visited Van Orden’s district alongside the lawmaker, who had welcomed Vance to Wisconsin’s 3rd District via an op-ed in the Washington Reporter.

The Wisconsin lawmaker’s embrace of Trump’s historic strikes on targets throughout Iran, which were carried out in close cooperation with Israel, come as the GOP more broadly indicates that it is firmly behind America’s partnership with Israel, and as polling shows that virtually all Republicans back military intervention to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The GOP’s top brass, exemplified by Kiersten Pels, the National Press Secretary of the Republican National Committee (RNC), told the Reporter that Trump’s strikes show “what real American strength on the world stage looks like. President Trump doesn’t issue empty warnings — he acts.”

“Our adversaries now understand the United States will defend its people and its interests without hesitation,” Pels added.