GOP Sen. Marshall says additional U.S. strikes in Iran just ‘mop-up operation’: Full interview

[0:03] Welcome back. And joining me now is Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas. [0:07] Senator Marshall, welcome back to Meet the Press. [0:12] It's great to be with you. [0:13] All right, let's start with the war in Iran. The war now there has passed 120 days. [0:20] Secretary Rubio testified that the war is over, yet overnight the U.S. launched new strikes inside Iran. [0:26] If the U.S. is still bombing Iran 120 days into this conflict, [0:30] how can the Trump administration credibly say the war is over? [0:33] Well, Ryan, look, I'm just going to stay focused on what my goals have been all along. [0:39] No nukes for Iran, no forever wars. Bring the cost of gas and grocery down. [0:43] The major war is over. And think of this as almost just a mop-up operation. [0:48] We have to press them. If they strike us, we have to strike them back by 10. [0:52] We're making great progress, to your point about Secretary Rubio. [0:56] He just made a great landmark case over in Lebanon and Israel, getting those folks together. [1:00] Look, let's not, let's root for the Trump team for once rather than try to tear him down. [1:05] So I think we're doing what we need to do, making great progress here. [1:09] And again, working toward those goals. No nukes for Iran, no forever wars. [1:13] And let's keep bringing that cost of gas and groceries down back home. [1:16] But more to the principal question here, Senator, is the war still going on? [1:21] Can we credibly say that the war is over at this point? [1:24] Well, I don't think the war is over. [1:28] I think there is a detente going on right now, that President Trump for the first time ever [1:32] got Iran to sign a document that they will not develop any nuclear weapons in the future. [1:37] That's great. [1:38] And then he followed that up, they're going to sign a U.N. security resolution as well. [1:43] We're making great progress. [1:44] So America, I'm asking America to hang in there. [1:48] This is a detente. [1:49] This is a ceasefire. [1:51] And yeah, they broke the ceasefire. [1:53] We have to answer that as well. [1:54] They only understand strength. [1:57] You know, we've destroyed their economy. [1:58] We've destroyed their military. [2:00] We're in a good spot right now. [2:01] All right. [2:01] Well, you mentioned affordability as a backdrop to the war and the situation there. [2:05] And this week, the housing bill that was passed by a bipartisan measure in both the House [2:10] and Senate is currently stalled. [2:12] And that's because President Trump has refused to sign it. [2:15] I want to show you what White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt posted about the housing act. [2:18] She said it was, quote, one of the most significant pieces of housing affordability legislation [2:23] in American history. [2:25] She added promises made, promises kept. [2:27] But within hours of that post, President Trump canceled the bill signing, [2:31] saying that it was just of minor importance. [2:33] Did President Trump break his promise when it comes to housing and affordability? [2:39] Look, this is a long book right now. [2:42] I'm concerned about the cost of living right now under Joe Biden. [2:44] We saw the cost of housing, health care, child care, all go up 50%. [2:48] And we're still reeling from that. [2:50] But we're getting back in the game again. [2:53] That America is truly back. [2:54] That real wages are outpacing inflation right now. [2:57] Housing is part of the puzzle. [2:59] But this is classic Donald Trump negotiation style. [3:02] He's going to grab every leverage point he can. [3:04] And this is one to get the bigger priority to cross the finish line. [3:08] And that's election integrity. [3:09] But, Senator, we'll get to the SAVE Act in a second. [3:11] First of all, we should point out that at this point, wages are not outpacing inflation. [3:15] That's not correct. [3:16] But if you insist that the housing crisis is of an imminent crisis and need, [3:24] why wouldn't the president just sign this bill and push that along? [3:28] Why is it necessary to hold that process up? [3:33] Well, Ryan, again, to push back, I think real wages are up since President Trump became president. [3:37] We do have a little blip going on right now. [3:39] But as the gasoline prices come down, inflation is going to come down and wages will get back up. [3:44] You can't look at just one day, one week, one month. [3:46] You have to look at the bigger deal right now. [3:48] Look, we can do both. [3:49] We can have people show voter IDs and pass the housing bill, or actually have the president sign the housing bill. [3:55] We can have both. [3:56] I understand the cost of living is the defining issue right now. [4:00] But also, everyone back home is really concerned about election integrity. [4:04] We need an election that is trustworthy. [4:08] And right now, some Americans don't feel it is trustworthy. [4:10] Okay. [4:10] Well, let's talk about that. [4:12] And let's talk about the realistic possibility of getting the SAVE America Act passed. [4:16] Even though President Trump has refused to sign any legislation until it is, [4:21] the SAVE Act calls for several changes to existing voting requirements. [4:24] But not only do Republicans not have the votes, [4:27] but I want to play for you what Senator Tom Tillis raised, [4:30] his questions about this particular piece of legislation. [4:32] Take a listen. [4:34] Does any rational person who's ever had any experience with implementing election law [4:39] really think that it's possible to have all that in place in time for this election and not be disruptive? [4:45] Senator Tillis says there's not enough time or money to even get this in place by November. [4:50] Is he right? [4:52] Well, that's very possible. [4:54] But we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. [4:57] When are we going to do this? [4:58] Look, I think that there is a huge concern on the part of Americans right now [5:02] that our elections are not trustworthy. [5:04] I don't think that fraud will ever end our democracy. [5:08] But what I'm worried about is those that had this belief, this fear that fraud is indeed possible [5:13] and then it could go unpunished. [5:15] So that's why we need to build an election process with integrity. [5:19] But let's talk about the root of that feeling that Americans have, [5:23] at least a certain sect of Americans as it relates to the integrity of elections. [5:26] You've said if you could pass one bill the rest of your career, [5:30] it would be the Save America Act. [5:32] Every issue we care about starts with secure elections. [5:35] Federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting. [5:38] There's no evidence that fraudulent votes have changed any election outcomes. [5:43] Are you trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist? [5:48] Look, we make pilots before they start flying a plane, [5:52] we make them get a license to do that. [5:55] We don't wait until they crash a plane until we make them go through a process. [5:58] The issue right now is, again, is that Americans don't feel that the elections are trustworthy. [6:04] No one wants their vote canceled by an illegal alien or by a dead person. [6:10] And all you have to do is look at the elections, recent elections in Los Angeles, [6:13] just to see the concern there as well. [6:16] So I think there's real concerns. [6:17] And the perception here is reality, Ryan. [6:20] People want election integrity. [6:22] 90% of Americans want voter ID. [6:24] So why not do that? [6:25] Look at the facts connected to this, Senator, because the perception is actually not the reality, [6:29] particularly when it comes to the claims of election fraud. [6:31] In fact, it was the Conservative Heritage Foundation that did an exhaustive study on this, [6:36] going back all the way to the 1980s, [6:38] and pointed out that there's only 100 total instances of non-citizens voting. [6:44] Again and again, part of the problem with election integrity is that President Trump keeps [6:49] accusing election systems of not being fair and not being secure. [6:54] But there's actually no evidence to support that. [6:56] So don't you need to bring to the American people a suite of issues, [7:01] a suite of evidence that demonstrates this need? [7:04] Just give me one example of where there was some level of fraud [7:08] that the Save America Act would have prevented that would have altered an election. [7:15] Yeah, right. [7:16] I guess we just look at this differently. [7:17] I think, again, I'm going back to that election process needs to be trustworthy, [7:21] that the election process is important to the backbone and the survival of this nation. [7:27] Everything I've done professionally, trust has been so important. [7:30] As a physician, the trust between the doctor and the patient, a military officer, [7:34] the trust between those below me and above me in rank, [7:37] and now as a senator, that there needs to be trust. [7:40] So what are Democrats running from? [7:43] Why are they afraid? [7:44] If what you're saying is true, then why are you worried about this? [7:47] Why not have voter ID? [7:49] Why not have some type of proof of citizenship? [7:53] Again, you can't get on a plane without your own ID. [7:56] Look, when I go to a plane in Kansas, they know who I am, [7:59] but they make me show our ID as well. [8:01] Why? [8:01] They don't want to wait for a plane to crash before they start enforcing that particular law. [8:06] So I think, again, this is just part of trustworthiness [8:09] and the integrity of our election is that important to our democracies. [8:13] Okay, but there are some concern among your fellow Republican senators [8:16] that President Trump's heavy focus on this is getting in the way [8:20] of some of the other business that you would like to accomplish. [8:22] We already mentioned the housing bill. [8:24] This led to a shouting match. [8:26] You were in the room for this on Capitol Hill last week. [8:29] How did you feel when you left the room? [8:32] And are you concerned about the relationship [8:33] between Republican senators and the White House? [8:38] Yeah, I guess I'm just shocked that there's a world out there [8:41] that thinks that grown people can't have a firm discussion. [8:45] I've been through so many hospital board meetings when doctors yelling at each other [8:49] over what time surgery should start. [8:51] And maybe I was part of some of those yelling matches as well. [8:55] Look, but it worked. [8:56] At the end of the day, he got a couple people to flip [8:58] and vote in favor of him to allow him to make better progress. [9:02] He felt like he's got his legs cut out from under him, [9:04] that they were negotiating on Iran. [9:06] And then this war powers ad comes through [9:09] and he feels like his own team pulled his legs out from behind him. [9:13] And again, emphasis here, [9:14] he thinks that this voting rights issue is the main issue. [9:17] It's the big deal, the voting rights bill. [9:19] Okay, sir, you are on the ballot this fall. [9:22] And before I let you go, [9:23] there are rumors in Kansas [9:24] that you're being eyed for a Trump cabinet post. [9:27] Are you interested in serving in the Trump administration? [9:29] And would you say yes, if asked? [9:33] Yeah, there's no truth to that at all. [9:35] I have no interest in doing that. [9:36] No one from the Trump administration [9:37] has approached me over anything like that. [9:40] I'm right where I need to be. [9:41] I'm where God has put me, [9:43] that he's prepared me for this day. [9:44] My background as a physician, [9:46] a fifth generation farm kid, military experience, [9:49] all those coming to fruition right now, [9:51] I'm right where I need to be. [9:52] Have a great relationship working with Secretary Kennedy [9:55] and Dr. Oz. [9:57] I'm right where we need to be right now. [9:58] Okay, and just before we go, though, [9:59] there's a new vacancy law in Kansas. [10:02] If you were to resign before October 2nd, [10:04] a Republican replacement would be appointed through 2028. [10:07] That would take the power of picking a replacement [10:10] out of the hands of voters. [10:11] Can you tell us today that you're committed [10:13] to staying on the ballot through election day? [10:18] I will be on the ballot on election day [10:20] and would be honored to represent the people of Kansas [10:22] for the next six years going forward. [10:24] It's been the honor of my lifetime. [10:27] Look, America is back. [10:28] The economy is being fueled back home [10:30] by energy independence. [10:32] Our manufacturing is growing. [10:33] I've got work to do on health care, [10:35] lowering the price of health care [10:37] through our price tax bill. [10:38] I've got so much more work to do [10:39] as a United States senator, [10:41] but America is back, [10:42] and I'm just proud to keep serving on this position. [10:44] So that means you're ruling out [10:46] any sort of an appointment [10:47] in the Trump administration just to button it up? [10:52] I am ruling out any appointment [10:54] in the Trump administration [10:55] at least through the next two or two or three years. [11:00] Who knows what would happen four years from now, okay? [11:02] All right, you're gonna stay on the ballot. [11:03] All right, Senator Marshall, [11:04] I'm glad we cleared that up. [11:05] Thank you so much for being here. [11:06] We appreciate it. [11:07] Okay, thank you. [11:09] We thank you for watching. [11:11] And remember, stay updated on breaking news [11:13] and top stories on the NBC News app [11:15] or watch live on our YouTube channel.