Senator Marshall: Americans Are Safer Today Thanks to President Trump – Senator Roger Marshall (.gov)
Senator Marshall Joins Mornings with Mundo on KCMO
Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined KCMO’s Mornings with Mundo with Pete Mundoto discuss President Trump’s deal with Iran and how it is a win for American safety, the cost of groceries and gas coming down, and the Kansas City Royals.
Click HERE to download the full video.
On the benefits of Trump’s deal with Iran:
“Yeah, well good morning, Pete. I think that Americans are safer. 47 years, this is going on, Iran has killed certainly over 1,000 Americans, they hold the world hostage on and off. And so, I think most importantly, Americans will be safer for generations to come. This is the first time that Iran has ever signed — and I say this regime in 47 years — has signed an agreement that they would never develop nukes. And something I’m really excited about is that this is not going to be a forever war. Look, I think Americans are done with forever wars, and I am concerned about the cost of gas and groceries, and this is going to bring down the cost of gas and groceries and is going to make Americans safe. So, I think that this agreement does just that. Look, we’re going to dive into 15 rabbit holes, but I think stay focused on that — the Strait is already open. I spoke with Vice President Vance on Tuesday, it was Tuesday afternoon, and we’re already moving 4 million barrels of oil a day through that Strait, going back to probably even the last week, so I think gas prices are coming down and groceries will follow.”
On if Iran can be trusted to keep a deal:
“Yeah, and we know exactly what we’re dealing with, Pete. “Trust and verify” is exactly the right term here — we did not send them $1.7 billion of cash up front, like Obama did. Most of the countries in the Middle East are very excited about this deal, they hated Obama’s deal. So, I think the collectiveness of this — this agreement is going to be verified in a UN security resolution, so we’ll have the UN involved with it as well, Iran’s agreed to allow the International Atomic Energy Commission come in with them and supervise. I think it’s impossible to take that nuclear dust out of there, they’ll have to dispose of it some way locally, would be my guess as well. And again, we don’t unlock the keys to the kingdom until they do those types of things, and then we’ll snap the sanctions back on. First of all, we’re dealing from such a position of strength that we have broken them militarily and economically — their inflation rate is 70%, their GDP per capita now is equivalent to someone that lives in Haiti, poorest country in this hemisphere. So, I think we’re just in such a much better position of strength. We’ve destroyed their military, their economy, they’re on their knees, they really are. But we understand who we’re dealing with here.”
On whom in Iran the U.S. is negotiating with:
“Well, Pete, I think it’s complicated, and I don’t think I’ve got a great, perfect answer for you. I think that they’re struggling with their powers — just like every day America struggles: is Donald Trump in charge, or is Chuck Schumer leading the day here, is the national media? So, they’ve got those different sects there as well — they’ve got their military, and their people that have been elected, but I think that we have them pretty well on the same page now. And right now, they’re trying to communicate this back to their people and save face, and we’ll see how it shakes out. I’m not saying there’s going to be regime change, but I certainly think they’re all afraid to come out of hiding and understand that their lives are in danger the moment they come out of hiding. So, again, I think they’re on their knees and just begging for some type of a lifesaver.”
On the reconstruction funds going to Iran:
“Yeah, and I think again, most importantly, the countries in the Middle East are behind this. And I’m just making an assumption here that that’s their ante to get in the game again: what is the cost to take Iran’s nuclear weapons away forever? We’re going to give you $300 billion — we, these countries are — but not all at the same time. And I really think if it’s Donald Trump or if it’s JD Vance as president, we’re going to sit there and approve what those dollars are used for. So, they’re going to build a new bridge — great, we’ll approve that. We’re going to build, you know, a new hospital — okay, great, we’ll approve that. Are we going to approve nuclear weapons? Are we going to approve building more fighter jets, more missiles? No, probably not. So, I think the devil’s in the details, but we’re going to control that money. It’s going to be probably Saudi money, some of those other Arabic countries as well, it will be their money, but we’re going to supervise where it can be spent.”
On the possibility of Iran creating tolls on the Strait of Hormuz:
“Well, that’s a no-go — we’re not going to let them charge people to go through that Strait. And again, I think that the other oil-producing countries in that region are going to throw a fit as well. And then what do we do when the ship leaves? If they’re going to charge a toll going through the Strait, then is China going to charge a toll back to Iran when it goes through the China Sea? I mean, it’s just a never-ending domino of people playing bullies. But could you imagine if Iran had a nuclear weapon, what they would do? They would hold the world hostage and say, ‘Okay, now you have to pay this toll,’ and then their nuclear weapon is their get out of jail free card as well. So, I don’t see that happening long-term, but again, you’re describing exactly who we’re dealing with. I would just flip the conversation, say this is so much better than the Obama agreement, if we just talk about that for two minutes. Number one is that Iran has signed this. Number two, the Obama agreement would allow them to start enriching today — this year — and by 2031, they would have had a nuclear weapon. So, just on its face right there, this agreement is so much better than any agreement we’ve ever had. I mentioned before that this agreement is going to end up with a UN resolution to help protect and enforce it as well. So, in so many ways, this is the best agreement — it’s not perfect. Remember, so to get them to sign, we have to give something, and what we gave is the same thing that Obama gave up — that we’re going to let them sell oil during these next 60 days. So that’s the carrot, and of course, there are lots of sticks out there as well.”
On the Royals v. Nationals game:
“Pete, I’m the eternal optimist; you know that as well. I mean, we were tied three to three in the seventh inning, and we had a nice comeback. Bobby Witt was, I think, three for four, so we do. Like I’ve said for the last 10 years, if we just find a couple of closers, we’d be in really good shape. I’ve not followed every game, but it sure seems a lot of times I look at the score, and we’re tied or ahead going into the eighth and ninth, and something happens. So, we need a closer — I’m not sure what we’d have to give up to get one. And it’s all about pitching — for small markets, you have to have strong pitching and strong closing. So, yeah, but I think the Cardinals are beatable; they’ve got a good team this year, of course, as well. So, we’re rooting for the Royals, and we’ll see what happens.”
###
Contact: Payton Fuller
Pursuant to Senate Policy, petitions, opinion polls and unsolicited mass electronic communications cannot be initiated by this office for the 60-day period immediately before the date of a primary or general election. Subscribers currently receiving electronic communications from this office who wish to unsubscribe may do so here.
