Sean Hannity invited a top Senate leader on his show. He couldn’t have expected this huge news.
Because a U.S. Senator has revealed eyebrow-raising comments from the President.
Trump Seeking Delicate Balance Of Backing Israel While Avoiding War with Iran, Ted Cruz Says
The Trump administration faces a high-stakes challenge in the Middle East, striving to support Israel’s defense against Iran’s nuclear ambitions while steering clear of direct U.S. military involvement in a volatile conflict. Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz, appearing on Fox News’ Hannity on Tuesday, June 17, highlighted the existential threat posed by Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, emphasizing the need for unwavering support for Israel. The administration’s approach, rooted in President Donald Trump’s firm commitment to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran, seeks to empower Israel’s precision strikes while maintaining America’s distance from another protracted war.
Iran’s recent test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at its Shahroud missile testing and space center in northern Iran has raised alarms. The development of ICBMs, capable of reaching the United States, is a real potential danger not only to Israel but also to American cities. Cruz, a staunch ally of Trump, framed the issue starkly during his Fox News appearance, painting Iran’s leadership as a grave threat to global stability.
“The ayatollah is a religious nutcase. He is a theocratic mass m*rderer. And when he chants ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel,’ he does so in front of mobs of people. He also refers to Israel as the little Satan and America is the great Satan,” Cruz said. “There is a reason the Ayatollah is developing ICBMs. ICBMs are intercontinental ballistic missiles. You don’t need an ICBM to bomb Israel. They’re bombing Israel with ballistic missiles. You need an ICBM to get to America.”
The Trump administration’s strategy hinges on enabling Israel to neutralize Iran’s military capabilities without dragging the U.S. into direct conflict. Israel, a nation roughly the size of New Jersey, has executed surgical strikes targeting Iran’s military infrastructure and senior leaders with remarkable precision. Cruz praised these efforts, noting that Israel’s actions serve not only its own security but also America’s by disrupting Iran’s path to nuclear weapons.
“I spoke to the president on Sunday and just told him, I said ‘Your leadership has been so critical on this.’ And he made clear [that] Iran is not getting a nuclear weapon, and he is standing with Israel. I believe our position should be [that] we stand unequivocally with the state of Israel,” Cruz told host Sean Hannity. “And I’ll make a point. Israel is doing an enormous favor to the United States right now. I believe the most acute, near-term security threat facing America is the threat of a nuclear Iran.”
The stakes could not be higher, according to Cruz, who warned of catastrophic consequences if Iran achieves its nuclear ambitions. The specter of a nuclear-armed Iran threatens not only Tel Aviv but also major U.S. cities like New York or Los Angeles. Israel’s proactive measures, supported by Trump’s resolute stance, aim to prevent such an outcome.
“If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, I think the odds are unacceptably high that we would find out with a mushroom cloud over New York City or Los Angeles or Tel Aviv and Israel. And what Israel has said is we are going to act. Israel is a tiny country. It’s the size of the state of New Jersey. They are taking out Iran’s military with surgical precision. They’re taking out virtually all of the senior leaders of the military,” Cruz said. “I think President Trump is exactly right to say we stand with Israel. And I’m with the 75 percent of Americans that agree with the president’s strong stance to keep America safe.”
To bolster Israel’s efforts, the U.S. has deployed over 30 aerial refueling tankers to the Middle East in recent days, according to two U.S. officials. These tankers could extend the operational range of Israeli fighter jets, allowing them to linger over Iranian airspace to target mobile ballistic missile launchers. Such launchers, which can fire and relocate swiftly, pose a significant challenge to Israel’s air campaigns. The tankers could also support U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers, based in Missouri, should Trump authorize strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Israel’s air force, while formidable, relies on a limited number of tankers to sustain large-scale operations. In recent strikes, Israel deployed as many as 200 jets, far exceeding its own refueling capacity. U.S. tankers could bridge this gap, enabling Israel to maintain pressure on Iran without requiring American pilots to engage directly. This support aligns with Trump’s strategy of empowering allies while avoiding entanglement in another Middle Eastern conflict.
The administration’s approach has garnered significant public support, with Cruz citing 75 percent of Americans backing Trump’s stance. By standing firmly with Israel, Trump aims to deter Iran’s aggression while reinforcing America’s commitment to its ally. The deployment of tankers, rather than combat aircraft, illustrates this delicate balance: providing critical logistical support without committing U.S. forces to the fight.
However, not all Republicans align with this strategy. A faction within the party, led by figures like Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie, advocates for restraint. Massie recently introduced a bipartisan War Powers Resolution, insisting that any military action against Iran requires congressional approval. His stance emphasizes constitutional checks on executive power and a desire to avoid deeper U.S. involvement.
“This is not our war. Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution,” Massie wrote on X.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul echoed Massie’s concerns, drawing on the U.S.’s costly experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Paul argued for avoiding foreign entanglements, emphasizing a non-interventionist approach that contrasts with Cruz’s hawkish support for Israel.
“It’s not the U.S.’s job to be involved in this war. Iraq was a mess, Afghanistan was a mess,” Paul said.
Despite these dissenting voices, the Trump administration remains focused on enabling Israel to counter Iran’s nuclear threat while keeping U.S. forces on the sidelines. The use of aerial tankers exemplifies this strategy, providing Israel with the tools to execute its missions effectively. If Trump were to escalate involvement, tankers could also support U.S. aircraft from regional bases or carriers in the Indian Ocean, though the administration has signaled no such plans.
The Trump team’s careful navigation of this crisis seeks to uphold America’s security interests while honoring its alliance with Israel. By prioritizing logistical support over direct intervention, the administration aims to prevent Iran from crossing the nuclear threshold without repeating the mistakes of past wars. As Israel continues its precision strikes, the U.S. stands ready to assist, ensuring that the ayatollah’s ambitions do not endanger American or Israeli lives.
