U.S. Representative from the GOP asserts that Iran poses a threat to tranquility, aligning with Trump's stance on U.S. military engagement.
June 18, 2025 at 12:22 PM CDT
Congressman Lawler Backs Trump on Iran's Nuclear Threat
Congressman Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., echoes President Trump's stance that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon and is ready to support Trump's decision to obliterate Tehran's nuclear program if necessary.
"A nuclear Iran equates to annihilation of Israel and a likely WWIII," Lawler declared on his social media platform. "We gotta draw a line and stand with Israel."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has highlighted the danger of a nuclear-equipped Iran, justifying recent military actions. However, Iran's capabilities remain a subject of debate.
The administration is considering various options regarding potential collaboration with Israel in confronting Iran. Lawler, in an interview with Morning Edition, expressed support for involvement "should that be what it takes to settle the score."
Lawler isn't the only one sharing this view, although some members of his party, along with many Democrats, call for restraint. This includes prominent conservative voices like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon, who want the U.S. to keep its nose out of the Middle Eastern war.
"I just don't wanna see the U.S. embroiled in another Middle Eastern mess that benefits us squat," Carlson asserted during Bannon's War Room podcast.
President Trump held a meeting with his national security team yesterday. Though no decision has been made, before the meeting, Trump said on Truth Social that his patience is wearing thin.
During their conversation with Morning Edition, Lawler shared his ideas on how the U.S. should approach Iran with NPR's Steve Inskeep.
Highlights from the Interview:
Steve Inskeep: With President [Trump] saying we rule the skies, are we - meaning the United States - already part of this war?
Rep. Mike Lawler: Yeah, I think if you look closely, the U.S. has provided Israel with loads of military gear and ammo. Plus, there's some top-secret intel cooperation between us. Over the past few months, communication and cooperation have been happening between our nations and Israel as it prepared for a preemptive strike against a potential nuclear Iran.
Inskeep: Just a couple of days back, the U.S. stated it wasn't involved. Now the president is saying, "We're in it." Are we in it?
Lawler: There's always been communication, cooperation, and coordination. Remember, there are over 40,000 American troops stationed in the Middle East. We need to protect our troops from potential Iranian attacks. There are also approximately 700,000 Americans living in Israel, so that's a district's size population!
Inskeep: Regardless of U.S. involvement up until now, there's talk of U.S. using a massive bunker-busting bomb to damage or destroy an Iranian nuclear facility buried under a mountain. Is it a good idea?
Lawler: I'd say, yeah. To be blunt, a nuclear Iran is a threat to the peace and security of the world. The partnership Iran maintains with China and Russia, its efforts to undermine and destabilize the free world - it all needs to be taken into account. Iran is on the edge of collapse, and you can sense the possibility of an uprising within the Iranian people. But a nuclear Iran is their only lifeline. From my point of view, Israel has made significant strides to weaken Iran's air defense and destroy its nuclear program. However, without U.S. involvement and support, it's impossible to finish the job. If it's necessary to finish the job, I'm all for it.
Inskeep: I just wanna emphasize some potential risks. The outcomes of a war are always uncertain. The war in Iraq didn't turn out as expected when the U.S. went after weapons of mass destruction there. There's also the question of public support and the Constitution, which calls for congressional approval for war. Do you believe that any action against Iran requires congressional approval before the president can act?
Lawler: In recent years, both Democratic and Republican administrations have taken targeted strikes without Congress' approval. The current situation is vastly different compared to Iraq two decades ago, and warfare has drastically changed. We can see it recently with Ukraine against Russia and Israel against Iran.
Inskeep: So, should Congress get involved then?
Lawler: If military forces are needed on the ground, that's something that must be presented to Congress. However, collaborating with Israel to eliminate Iran's nuclear program, I personally support and endorse the president's actions.
Copyright 2025 NPR
- The interview with Rep. Mike Lawler on NPR's Morning Edition highlighted his support for President Trump's approach towards Iran, which involves collaborating with Israel to eliminate Iran's nuclear program, a move that falls under the category of 'politics'.
- The news of Rep. Mike Lawler's stance on Iran's nuclear threat, war-and-conflicts, and his support for President Trump's decision to obliterate Tehran's nuclear program, also falls under the umbrella of 'general-news'.
