SCOOP: Republicans across Congress are united behind Israel following Iranian ballistic missile attacks

THE LOWDOWN:

• During an unprecedented level of Israeli strikes on the Iranian regime in Tehran, freshman and veteran lawmakers alike from across the GOP spectrum made it clear that they want Trump to keep up the pressure.

• Rep. August Pfluger (R., Texas) the chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), said that “Iran remains the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, destabilizing the Middle East through decades of proxy violence and chaos.”

• On the Senate side, Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) told the Reporter “Israel is doing the world a favor. President Trump’s leadership and support for Israel has made every American safer.”

• Similarly, a trio consisting of Reps. Randy Fine (R., Fla.), Marlin Stutzman (R., Ind.), and Mark Harris (R., N.C.) told the Reporter in a series of interviews why they back Trump on Iran. Other Trump allies told the Reporter that events of the last week make not only Israel and America safer, but also the entire world.

Republicans in Congress, from the Freedom Caucus to the Main Street Caucus, are united behind President Donald Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran, multiple members told the Washington Reporter.

During an unprecedented level of Israeli strikes on the Iranian regime in Tehran, freshman and veteran lawmakers alike from across the GOP spectrum made it clear that they want Trump to keep up the pressure.

Rep. August Pfluger (R., Texas) the chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), said that “Iran remains the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, destabilizing the Middle East through decades of proxy violence and chaos.”

“America has zero tolerance for a nuclear-armed Iran…” Pfluger said. “As Iran escalates its aggression, America stands firmly with Israel and will defend our ally with the full force of American power.”

“The United States — especially with President Trump in the White House — is in the business of supporting friends like Israel against enemies like Iran that has so much American blood on its hands,” Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.) told the Reporter.

“The truth is, this day has been coming since I was an active duty Army officer and our commander in chief Jimmy Carter showed historic weakness to the Ayatollah and began our almost 50-year Iran crisis,” Issa added.

Issa is one of the most senior members sitting on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has been one of Trump’s top allies in Congress. His fellow veterans in Congress explained to the Reporter how Israel’s work has already made America safer.

“The strikes were brilliantly planned and obviously based on incredible and very detailed intelligence,” Rep. Don Bacon (R., Neb.) said. “The nuclear facilities are severely damaged, and the top military and IRGC leaders were killed along with key nuclear scientists. Iran is a mortal threat to Israel but also to the United States.”

“Israel struck a blow that severely degrades its worst enemy, but also enhances America’s security,” Bacon added.

Similarly, a trio consisting of Reps. Randy Fine (R., Fla.), Marlin Stutzman (R., Ind.), and Mark Harris (R., N.C.) told the Reporter in a series of interviews why they back Trump on Iran. Other Trump allies told the Reporter that events of the last week make not only Israel and America safer, but also the entire world.

As Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at millions of Israeli civilians, congressional GOP leaders made it clear that they’re behind America’s ally.

On the Senate side, Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) told the Reporter “Israel is doing the world a favor. President Trump’s leadership and support for Israel has made every American safer.”

“Another promise kept by President Trump,” Cotton noted.

Similarly, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R., Ala.) made it clear that he stands with Trump, saying the U.S. “cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

“President Trump has been trying to get Iran to negotiate for months — hopefully now they will show up,” Tuberville said.

Across the Rotunda, Rep. Andy Harris (R., Md.), the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, said that he “stand[s] in prayer with the people of Israel, asking for strength, protection, and peace as they confront these ongoing attacks with resolve and courage.”

The leadership of the Main Street Caucus shared similar sentiments, as did virtually all of its membership. Rep. Dusty Johnson, the caucus’s chairman, noted that “Israel is within its right to defend itself from Iran, the largest state-sponsor of terror.”

“Iran breached its obligation and must end its nuclear weapons program,” Johnson said. “The United States will stand with Israel who continues to face threats across the Middle East.”

“Israel’s targeted strikes against Iran’s military leaders will help prevent Iran from achieving their dream of becoming a nuclear power,” Rep. Mike Flood (R., Neb.), the group’s vice chairman, said. “We can never let that happen.”

Others in the Main Street Caucus shared similar sentiments. Rep. Stephanie Bice (R., Okla.) said that “Israel’s actions are focused on preventing a nuclear-capable Iran and are targeted towards the regime, not the Iranian people.”

“We cannot allow Iran to continue to spread terrorism across the world, further destabilize the region, or gain nuclear weapons,” Bice said. “I support Iranians both in the United States and across the globe who yearn for freedom and stand against the actions of Iran’s oppressive regime.”

Rep. Mike Simpson (R., Idaho) said that America “stands with Israel and supports its right to defend itself.”

Rep. Julia Letlow (R., La.), another Main Street member, added that Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism “threatens the security of both Israel and America.”

Groups that support Trump echoed these sentiments. “The world owes Israel and America a huge debt of gratitude,” Matt Brooks, the CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), told the Reporter. “Israel, with the support and coordination of President Trump, has made the world a better place by neutralizing the threat Iran poses with nuclear weapons and their terror axis.”

“Now we must finish the job,” Brooks said. The leadership of another Trump-supporting group told the Reporter that the Iranian regime’s time is up.

“The regime in Iran has spent decades fueling terrorist violence against Americans, our allies, and countless innocent civilians,” Hooff Cooksey, the executive director of Veterans on Duty (VOD), told the Reporter.

“One in every six American combat fatalities in Iraq is on Iran’s hands. Veterans and military families know it would be unacceptable for the Ayatollah and his regime — who proudly chant ‘Death to America’ and seek the assassination of American leaders — to possess a nuclear weapon,” Cooksey said.

“A nuclear Iran is a direct threat to Americans and the freedoms generations of service members have fought and died for,” Cooksey added.

Trump’s policies are also supported by many of those who worked for him in the administration. One, Bonnie Glick, who served in his first term, noted to the Reporter that “the president takes inputs from all sides. We have never had a more deliberative commander in chief. Based on the inputs he has gotten not just from his American advisers but from our allies around the world — from the G-7 to the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] — he is weighing what is best for America. And he is acting accordingly based on what is in the best interest of the American people. Hint: that does not include a nuclear Iran in any way, shape, or form."