Meet the Press Full Episode — March 1

[0:01] This Sunday, striking Iran. [0:04] President Trump says Iran's supreme leader is dead [0:07] and a large amount of Iranian leadership has been killed [0:11] after the U.S. and Israel launched major combat operations targeting the regime. [0:18] Bombs will be dropping everywhere. [0:20] When we are finished, take over your government. [0:23] It will be yours to take. [0:25] This will be probably your only chance for generations. [0:29] This is a war of choice by the United States. [0:32] Is this the beginning of a wider war? [0:35] The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost [0:38] and we may have casualties that often happens in war. [0:43] My guests this morning, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, [0:47] Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, [0:50] and Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California. [0:54] Joining me for insight and analysis are [0:56] NBC News National Security Editor Carol Lee, [1:00] Jonathan Martin of Politico, [1:03] former Homeland Security Secretary Jay Johnson, [1:06] and Stephen Hayes, editor of The Dispatch. [1:10] Welcome to Sunday. [1:11] It's Meet the Press. [1:12] From NBC News in Washington, [1:16] the longest running show in television history. [1:19] This is Meet the Press with Kristen Welkin. [1:24] Good Sunday morning. [1:25] The world is on alert. [1:27] With the United States, together with Israel, [1:30] launching a war with Iran. [1:32] With airstrikes across the country starting Saturday [1:35] and continuing into Sunday morning, [1:38] targeting military and nuclear sites, [1:41] killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. [1:44] And as President Trump told me in a phone call Saturday, [1:48] a large amount of leadership in Iran was also killed in the attacks. [1:52] This morning, Israel says at least 40 military commanders were killed. [1:57] Iran responding across the region, [1:59] hitting a high-rise in Bahrain. [2:02] A strike against an iconic hotel in Dubai. [2:06] Civilians running from an incoming missile in Qatar, [2:09] all home to U.S. military bases. [2:12] And this morning, a new warning for Iran. [2:15] President Trump posting that if Iran strikes back today, [2:19] quote, [2:20] we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before. [2:24] And joining me now is Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. [2:28] Senator Graham, welcome back to Meet the Press. [2:31] Thank you. [2:31] Thank you for being here. [2:33] Thank you for having me on such a historic day. [2:35] Thank you for being here on an historic morning, Senator. [2:39] Let me start with the big question. [2:41] Is the United States at war with Iran? [2:47] I think the Ayatollah would say, yeah. [2:50] I don't know if this is technically a war, [2:52] but we're... [2:53] Here's what I can say the headline is for me Sunday. [2:57] The mothership of terrorism is sinking. [3:00] The captain is dead. [3:01] The largest state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, is close to collapsing. [3:07] The leader of the largest state sponsor of terrorism [3:10] and his inner team are dead. [3:12] The mothership that fuels the proxies [3:14] is in sinking mode. [3:18] The goal of this operation [3:20] is to change the threat, not the regime. [3:23] When this operation is over, [3:24] no matter who takes over in Iran, [3:26] they will not have ballistic missiles [3:28] to hurt us, Israel, or the region. [3:31] They will not have the capability [3:33] to be the largest state sponsor of terrorism, [3:35] whether it's their cleric [3:37] or a group of representative [3:39] of the country where there's an election. [3:42] It doesn't matter right now. [3:45] Iran in the future will no longer be [3:47] the largest state sponsor of terrorism. [3:49] They cannot reign terror on the region. [3:51] They cannot commit mass murder. [3:53] That's the goal of this operation. [3:55] Again, the mothership of terrorism [3:57] is sinking. [3:59] The captain is dead. [4:00] Well done, President Trump. [4:02] It's been the policy of this country for decades [4:04] to eliminate this regime. [4:06] President Trump did it. [4:08] Admiral Cooper came up with a military plan [4:10] that's unbelievable. [4:11] We're not done yet. [4:13] But when it is done, [4:15] Iran will no longer be capable [4:17] of being the largest state sponsor of terrorism. [4:19] That is the goal, [4:20] and that goal will be achieved. [4:22] Senator, let me ask you, [4:24] because as you are saying, [4:26] the leader, the Ayatollah Supreme Leader is dead. [4:30] Will the United States [4:32] pick the next leader of Iran [4:34] or will the Iranian people pick the next leader? [4:36] No. [4:38] I talked to the crown prince. [4:40] He's got some ideas about transition. [4:42] There will be no American boots on the ground. [4:45] This is not Iraq. [4:46] This is not Germany. [4:47] This is not Japan. [4:48] We're going to free the people up [4:49] from a terrorist regime. [4:51] And the goal is not only to help [4:52] the Iranian people to chart a new destiny, [4:55] but make sure no matter who takes over in Iran, [4:58] no matter who it is, [4:59] no matter who the people pick, [5:01] they cannot become the largest state sponsor of terrorism. [5:03] They can't fuel Hezbollah, the Hooties, and Hamas. [5:07] They can't have ballistic missiles. [5:09] They can't have a nuclear weapon. [5:10] They will be out of the terrorism business. [5:12] So the people will pick. [5:14] As to the people, choose wisely. [5:16] We want to be your friend. [5:17] We'd like to have a good relationship [5:19] with you going forward. [5:20] But that is up to you. [5:22] Now, what am I going to do next? [5:23] When this regime can no longer threaten the region, [5:26] I'm going to build on what I did with President Biden [5:29] to try to get Saudi Arabia and Israel to normalize. [5:32] If the fall of this regime would lead to normalization [5:36] between Saudi Arabia and Israel, [5:38] the center of gravity for Islam is Saudi Arabia, [5:42] the one and only Jewish state, [5:43] if they could make peace and have a normal relationship [5:46] because this regime fell, it would be historic. [5:49] Taking the regime down is a big deal. [5:51] Normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel is a historic deal. [5:55] That's where I'm going to spend my time and energy. [5:58] To President Trump, [5:59] you did something everybody talked about. [6:01] You took Madura down. [6:02] Everybody talked about it. [6:03] You did it. [6:04] You took the Ayatollah down. [6:05] Again, the goal of this operation [6:07] is to make sure there will never be, [6:09] in Iran, a state-sponsored terrorism [6:12] to rain havoc on us and the region. [6:15] That's the goal. [6:15] I hope the people will choose wisely. [6:18] Senator, history tells us [6:19] just how complicated regime chain is. [6:21] We saw that when Saddam Hussein was ousted [6:25] and a terror threat and group moved in. [6:28] How will the United States make sure [6:30] that the next Iranian government [6:32] isn't worse than the current regime? [6:38] It's not our job to pick the next Iranian government. [6:40] I don't remember being attacked by Iraq anytime, [6:43] you know, in the past. [6:45] Iraq is complicated, [6:47] but, you know, we have a relationship with Iraq. [6:49] It's up to Iran to pick your leader. [6:52] It's not my job. [6:53] It's not President Trump's job. [6:54] We're not going to occupy the country. [6:56] We're going to give the people of Iran [6:57] a chance to do something they've never had before, [7:00] chart their own destiny. [7:01] We're going to take away from any future regime [7:04] the ability, any future government, [7:06] the ability to have a ballistic missile program, [7:09] a nuclear program, or support terrorism. [7:11] That's what we're going to do. [7:12] And if out of this comes a new government [7:15] that we can do business with, great. [7:17] But having Iran no longer the state-sponsor of terrorism [7:20] opens up historic opportunities. [7:23] It's the one irritant in the region. [7:26] It's the one impediment to real peace. [7:28] We'll never get to where we want to go [7:30] as long as Iran is the largest state-sponsor of terrorism. [7:33] And I'm here to tell you, [7:35] the largest state-sponsor of terrorism, [7:37] the mothership of terrorism, [7:38] is sinking and the captain is dead, [7:41] and a lot of good things are going to follow. [7:43] Senator, let's talk about the strategy moving forward. [7:46] In a social media post Sunday, [7:47] President Trump wrote this, [7:49] quote, [7:49] hopefully the IRGC and police will peacefully merge [7:53] with the Iranian patriots [7:54] and work together as a unit [7:56] to bring back the country [7:58] to the greatness it deserves. [8:01] Is hope the plan for the future of Iran? [8:04] No, the future of Iran is going to be determined [8:10] by the Iranian people. [8:12] The new Iran, whatever it is, [8:15] whether it's a cleric or a representative democracy, [8:19] our goal is to make sure it cannot become, again, [8:23] the largest state-sponsor of terrorism. [8:25] That's a win for us. [8:26] But is there a plan to make sure that happens, Senator? [8:30] Is there a plan? [8:31] Does the president have a plan [8:33] to guarantee that that happens? [8:35] No, it's not his job or my job to do this. [8:39] How many times do I have to tell you? [8:41] Our job is to make sure Iran [8:43] is no longer the largest state-sponsor of terrorism, [8:46] to help the people reconstruct a new government, [8:49] no boots on the ground. [8:51] We don't own, you know this idea, [8:53] you break it, you own it. [8:54] I don't buy that one bit. [8:55] It's in America's interest [8:56] to make sure the Ayatollah is dead. [8:59] He's dead. [8:59] It's in America's interest [9:01] to make sure that Iran can no longer [9:03] be the largest state-sponsor of terrorism. [9:05] We're close. [9:06] Once the people decide what they want to do next, [9:09] I don't mind helping them. [9:11] But I know what they're not going to be allowed to do next, [9:14] regenerate the largest state-sponsor of terrorism. [9:16] I'm going to focus on having Iran off the map [9:20] as the largest state-sponsor of terrorism [9:22] and see if we can build a new Mideast. [9:25] All right, we've got a lot more to get to. [9:26] And President Trump said the objective is, quote, [9:29] to defend the American people [9:31] by eliminating imminent threats [9:33] from the Iranian regime. [9:35] What specifically were the imminent threats [9:38] that justified this operation, Senator? [9:42] They were building ballistic missiles [9:44] that could eventually reach the United States. [9:46] They have been trying for decades [9:48] to build a nuclear weapon. [9:49] It did not hammer work, [9:51] but they were right back at it. [9:53] The Ayatollah is a religious Nazi. [9:55] His regime was founded around three principles, [9:59] to purify Islam, to dominate Islam, [10:02] to take over Islam, [10:03] to do away with Saudi Arabia [10:05] as the center of gravity for Islam [10:07] and let it be Iran, [10:08] to kill the Jews, [10:10] to annihilate the Jewish state [10:12] and come after us, drive us out of the region. [10:13] That's what he said. [10:14] He can't do that anymore because he's dead. [10:17] And anybody who wants to do that in the future, [10:19] you're going to be dead too. [10:21] So the point is, [10:23] the Iranian threat to the United States [10:25] through ballistic missiles, [10:26] through a nuclear program, [10:28] the proxies have killed a lot of Americans. [10:31] Hezbollah has American blood on its hands. [10:33] So does Hamas. [10:34] None of that's going to be able to happen again. [10:36] They were threats to us. [10:38] President Donald J. Trump, [10:39] you eliminated one of the largest threats [10:42] to the United States by taking this regime down. [10:44] We're not there yet, but we're close. [10:46] And when this regime goes down, [10:49] I'm going to work my ass off with Democrats [10:52] to build on what Biden tried to do, [10:54] get Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel, [10:56] which would be the biggest change in a thousand years. [10:59] And we can't do it [11:00] until the terrorist regime in Iran is replaced. [11:03] And we're very, very close. [11:05] Senator, let me ask you, [11:06] because the president's opposition to regime change [11:10] and war, quite frankly, [11:12] was central to what he described [11:14] as his America First agenda. [11:16] On Saturday, former Republican Congresswoman [11:18] Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote this, [11:21] quote, [11:21] we said no more foreign wars, [11:23] no more regime change. [11:25] We said it on rally stage after rally stage, [11:28] speech after speech, [11:29] Trump, Vance, [11:30] basically the entire administration campaigned on it [11:33] and promised to put America first [11:35] and make America great again. [11:37] Did the promise, [11:38] did the president's strikes on Iran [11:40] go against everything that he promised [11:42] the American people, Senator? [11:43] Quite the opposite. [11:48] He promised to keep us safe, [11:50] to stand up to people who would hurt America. [11:52] She's a former congressman for a reason. [11:55] What is it? [11:57] America First is the following. [11:58] Make sure that no regime [12:00] who wishes to hurt America can, [12:02] to make sure that they don't have [12:04] a ballistic missile capability [12:05] to attack our country. [12:07] They have American blood on their hands. [12:09] We destroyed their missile program, [12:11] the nuclear program. [12:12] They were coming right back at it. [12:13] America First is not isolationism. [12:16] America First is not head in the sand. [12:19] America First is not to get entangled. [12:21] We're not going to have any boots [12:22] on the ground in Iran. [12:24] But America First is to kill people [12:26] who wish us ill [12:28] with a record of trying to destroy us [12:32] and the region [12:32] to take them off the table. [12:36] Celebrate today, please, [12:37] my Democratic colleagues, [12:39] that the most evil man [12:40] on the planet is no more. [12:42] He terrorized his own people. [12:44] 32,000 people at least [12:45] had been killed, [12:46] protesting a better life. [12:48] He was trying to get a nuclear weapon. [12:49] He was building missiles [12:50] to hit the United States. [12:52] He was a religious Nazi [12:53] that had a horrible agenda [12:55] for the region and the world. [12:57] He is no more. [12:58] Well done, President Trump. [12:59] Well done to your team. [13:00] This is something to celebrate. [13:02] Senator, let me follow up [13:03] with you on this point [13:04] because on Friday, [13:05] Vice President Vance says [13:06] there's, quote, [13:06] no chance of a long conflict in Iran. [13:09] But President Trump said [13:11] a drawn-out war is, quote, [13:12] always a risk. [13:14] So which is it? [13:15] Could Iran, in fact, [13:17] become another forever war, Senator? [13:22] Give me a break. [13:23] We're going to beat Iran. [13:24] The Arabs are now joined with us. [13:27] When the Iranians attacked [13:29] their Arab neighbors, [13:29] they made a fatal mistake. [13:31] We're going to have [13:32] Arab countries use military force [13:35] to take this regime down. [13:36] The Arab world is living for the day [13:39] that Iran is no more. [13:41] The Iranian regime has terrorized the region. [13:44] They've killed Americans. [13:45] They've terrorized the entire region. [13:47] You're going to see Arabs join the fight. [13:50] So this is a historic moment [13:52] where the Arab world [13:53] and the United States have joined together [13:55] to take down the largest state-sponsored terrorism, [13:58] a truly evil man, a religious Nazi [14:01] who no longer can rain terror [14:03] on his people or the world. [14:05] You know, when Obama took bin Laden out, [14:09] I clapped like a seal. [14:10] I gave him credit. [14:11] It was a great thing to do. [14:13] It was the right thing to do. [14:15] This is the right thing to do. [14:16] We negotiated with these people [14:18] over and over again. [14:20] They were not interested in giving up [14:22] their nuclear program [14:22] because they're religious Nazis. [14:24] They have a religious agenda. [14:26] I don't think everybody in Iran [14:28] is a religious Nazi. [14:29] Senator, let me get this final question in [14:31] because it's an important one. [14:32] As a member of the House, [14:33] you voted to give former President [14:35] George W. Bush approval [14:36] to go to war with Iraq back in 2002. [14:40] Does Congress now need to vote [14:42] to approve this war with Iran? [14:47] No, I have no desire. [14:48] I think the War Powers Act [14:50] is unconstitutional. [14:51] What are we doing here? [14:52] What's the difference? [14:52] You voted to give George Bush [14:54] authorization to go to war with Iraq. [14:56] What's the difference? [14:56] Because he come and asked. [14:58] He came and asked. [14:59] So does President Trump need to ask? [15:00] They wanted the authority. [15:02] No, that's what I'm trying to tell you. [15:04] This is a military operation [15:06] designed to eliminate threats [15:08] that have existed against our country. [15:10] What are the threats? [15:11] Ballistic missile programs [15:12] that were getting bigger, not smaller. [15:14] An effort to reestablish a nuclear [15:17] program that could threaten us in the region. [15:19] An effort to keep the proxy network alive [15:22] that has American blood on its hands. [15:23] He was justified doing this. [15:25] Every president before him [15:26] talked about doing it. [15:28] He actually did it. [15:29] He has the legal authority to do it. [15:31] And these operations will continue [15:33] until the threat is no longer there. [15:35] The new Iran will not be allowed [15:37] to threaten America. [15:38] It will not be allowed to be [15:39] the largest state-sponsored terrorism [15:41] ever again. [15:42] And that opens up historic opportunities. [15:45] All right. [15:46] Senator Lindsey Graham, [15:47] thank you for starting us off this morning. [15:48] We really appreciate it. [15:50] Thank you. [15:51] When we come back, [15:53] Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona [15:54] joins me next. [16:07] Welcome back. [16:08] And joining me now is Democratic Senator [16:09] Mark Kelly of Arizona. [16:11] Senator Kelly, welcome back to Meet the Press. [16:13] Thank you for having me on, Kristen. [16:17] Thank you. [16:17] It is a monumental Sunday. [16:19] Thank you for being on, Senator Kelly. [16:22] We really appreciate it. [16:23] Let me start with what you just heard [16:25] from Senator Lindsey Graham. [16:26] You heard him argue the world is now safer [16:29] because the Supreme Leader of Iran is dead. [16:33] Do you agree with him? [16:35] Is the world now safer, Senator? [16:39] Well, I agree with that part. [16:41] I mean, it's a good thing [16:42] that the Supreme Leader is gone [16:44] and some of the folks around him. [16:47] And I have to give a shout out [16:48] to the young men and women [16:51] of the U.S. military [16:51] who, you know, by their skill [16:53] and, you know, focus on the mission [16:55] and determination and patriotism [16:57] were able to conduct this operation. [16:59] So that part's a good thing. [17:01] But what I also heard from Lindsey [17:03] and we saw in the president's tweet [17:05] earlier today is they're talking about hope. [17:08] You know, the president said, hopefully. [17:10] Lindsey, a number of times, said, we hope. [17:13] Hope is not a strategy. [17:15] We got to have a plan here. [17:17] I mean, what is the strategic goal [17:20] and how do we achieve it? [17:23] And my job here in the United States Senate [17:26] is to make sure that this administration, [17:28] you know, has a plan and doesn't put Americans, [17:32] especially U.S. service members, at further risk. [17:35] Well, and you, of course, [17:38] flew combat missions during the Gulf War. [17:42] Broadly speaking, [17:43] do you support this military operation? [17:49] Well, I want to see a strategy. [17:51] And I mean, broadly, no. [17:53] Again, comedy being dead is a good thing. [17:58] But what is this about? [18:00] I mean, the president said [18:01] the Iranian nuclear capability [18:03] was obliterated last summer. [18:05] So is this about that [18:07] or is it about ballistic missiles? [18:09] Lindsey talked about ballistic missiles [18:10] being able to range the United States, [18:14] you know, reach the continental United States. [18:17] They don't have that capability now. [18:18] He was not implying that, [18:20] but they're trying to achieve it, [18:21] which is true. [18:22] But that's going to take a long time. [18:23] So what was the imminent threat? [18:25] Or is this about, you know, [18:26] getting rid of the entire regime, [18:29] which is really challenging? [18:31] There's not an armed opposition in Iran. [18:35] My concern here, you know, [18:36] going forward is what happens now. [18:39] We saw in Iraq that in 2006, [18:43] Saddam Hussein was finally killed. [18:45] And then over more than a decade, [18:48] we lost 1,500 Americans. [18:50] I don't want to see a wide conflict [18:53] in the Middle East. [18:54] Well, Senator Lindsey Graham says [18:56] that it is possible to carry out [18:57] this military operation [18:59] without putting U.S. boots on the ground. [19:01] The president has said that. [19:03] Do you accept that? [19:04] Do you think it is possible [19:06] to continue with this military operation [19:08] without putting U.S. boots on the ground, Senator? [19:10] That is incredibly challenging. [19:15] I mean, for somebody, you know, myself, [19:18] I've, you know, used air power [19:20] in defense of this country. [19:22] I flew 39 combat missions. [19:24] We could take out targets. [19:25] You could destroy a building. [19:27] You could even, you know, [19:28] based on what happened, you know, [19:29] previously, you could, this summer, [19:33] you know, you can even hit [19:34] underground targets. [19:35] But eliminating things [19:36] and fully taking out a capability [19:39] is really challenging [19:41] without putting people there on the ground. [19:45] Well, you know, let me ask you, [19:47] because as you think about [19:48] how long this military operation might be, [19:52] President Trump effectively said, [19:54] look, it's going to last [19:55] at least the week ahead of the strikes. [19:57] Vice President J.D. Vance said, [19:58] quote, [19:58] there is no chance the U.S. [20:01] will be drawn into a prolonged war with Iran. [20:05] Do you accept that? [20:07] Or do you think it's possible [20:08] that this could become [20:09] a prolonged military engagement, Senator? [20:12] Well, absolutely it could be. [20:14] And that's the concern here. [20:16] And that's why we need to get back in Washington [20:18] and have a discussion [20:20] with the White House on this [20:21] and have a vote. [20:22] Hey, you got the president [20:24] and the vice president [20:25] saying things that are 180 degrees out, right? [20:29] In one hand, not going to be prolonged. [20:31] In the other, it could be [20:32] a drawn out conflict. [20:34] Which one is it? [20:36] And what is your plan going forward? [20:38] And by the way, Kristen, [20:41] I mean, if the Iranians decide [20:42] to shut down the Straits of Hormuz, [20:45] what is the plan there? [20:47] Because you're going to put [20:49] a huge number of service members at risk. [20:52] And on the other side, [20:54] if you don't do something about it, [20:55] we could wind up with significant, [20:58] a significant economic hit [20:59] to the worldwide economy. [21:01] So these are complicated scenarios [21:05] and complicated decisions. [21:08] And I think this administration, [21:09] my sense is that they did not go into this [21:12] with any kind of strategic plan. [21:15] It was an operation [21:16] with no discussion about what comes next. [21:20] Let me ask you, [21:22] speaking of the plan [21:23] and the reaction from Capitol Hill, [21:25] this is what Democratic Senator Jackie Rosen [21:27] had to say about the strikes on Saturday. [21:29] I'm going to read it to you, [21:30] get your reaction on the other side. [21:32] She says Iran can never be allowed [21:35] to obtain a nuclear weapon. [21:36] Iran's support for ballistic missiles [21:38] and terrorist proxies [21:39] are some of the leading [21:40] national security threats [21:41] to the U.S., Israel, and the region. [21:44] Now, she does believe Congress [21:46] should authorize any military action. [21:48] But do you agree with her central point, [21:51] which is that Iran's military program [21:53] and nuclear program [21:55] did in fact pose a threat [21:56] to the United States? [21:58] It has posed a threat, [22:01] and we can't allow Iran [22:03] to get a nuclear weapon. [22:05] But you got to remember, [22:06] this president tore up the Iran deal [22:09] in his first administration, [22:11] and they were not close [22:12] to what we call breakout capability [22:14] with the enrichment of uranium. [22:15] They weren't that close [22:17] to getting a weapon. [22:18] After that was torn up, [22:20] they went further. [22:22] There was some damage done [22:23] this past summer. [22:24] It wasn't obliterated. [22:25] We have a lot of information [22:27] about where their programs are. [22:29] This week, Iran was not [22:32] an imminent threat to the homeland. [22:35] Again, I'm going to reiterate, [22:38] Kamani being dead [22:39] is a very positive thing [22:41] for the region. [22:43] But we have a lot [22:44] of service members there, [22:45] a lot of equities. [22:46] We've got embassies [22:47] all over the place. [22:48] They have a large terrorist network. [22:50] They've got the Houthis [22:52] and Hamas [22:53] that are in the region, [22:57] Hezbollah. [22:58] There are options [22:59] that the Iranian regime, [23:02] whoever comes next, [23:03] has to target U.S. citizens. [23:07] Two more quick critical questions [23:09] for you. [23:09] If there is a war powers vote, [23:11] Senator, will you be a yes? [23:13] Well, I'm going to have [23:16] to take a close look at it. [23:17] I want to hear from the White House [23:18] what their strategy [23:19] is going forward. [23:20] I would say at this point [23:21] it's rather unlikely [23:22] that it would be. [23:23] You know, [23:24] they went into this [23:26] without any discussion [23:29] with us ahead of time. [23:31] And by the way, [23:32] why on Tuesday [23:33] during the State of the Union [23:35] didn't the president [23:36] make a case [23:37] to the American people [23:38] on why he is going to [23:40] conduct an attack on Iran? [23:44] And then just finally, [23:46] Secretary Hegseth [23:47] has had you in his crosshairs. [23:49] He's targeted you [23:50] and other lawmakers. [23:51] He tried to downgrade [23:52] your military ranking. [23:54] That was blocked by a judge. [23:56] Do you have confidence [23:57] in Pete Hegseth's leadership [23:58] to lead this war? [24:03] Well, I didn't vote for him. [24:04] And I have previously said [24:07] and I maintain [24:07] that he's the least qualified [24:09] Secretary of Defense [24:10] we've ever had [24:11] in our country's history. [24:13] So no, [24:14] I don't think he is the, [24:16] you know, [24:16] person to, [24:17] you know, [24:18] be leading this. [24:18] But he is who Donald Trump [24:20] chose to be Secretary of Defense. [24:22] So he's, [24:23] unless he's fired, [24:25] he's going to remain in that job. [24:26] So yeah, [24:27] sure, [24:27] that concerns me. [24:29] All right. [24:29] Senator Mark Kelly, [24:30] thank you so much [24:31] for being here today. [24:32] We really appreciate it. [24:35] Thank you. [24:36] When we come back, [24:37] Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna [24:39] joins me next. [24:41] Welcome back. [24:47] And joining me now [24:48] is Democratic Congressman [24:49] Ro Khanna of California. [24:51] Congressman Khanna, [24:52] welcome back to Meet the Press. [24:55] Thank you for having me on today. [24:57] Thank you so much [24:58] for being here. [24:59] Let me start off [25:00] with this critical question. [25:01] You heard what Senator Lindsey Graham [25:03] had to say. [25:04] The world is in fact safer [25:05] now that the Supreme Leader [25:07] is gone. [25:07] You heard Senator Kelly [25:09] agree with that part [25:10] of his assessment. [25:11] Do you agree? [25:16] Senator Graham now [25:17] has become the face [25:18] of Republican foreign policy. [25:21] He's been consistent, [25:22] but he's been consistently wrong. [25:24] Let me say this. [25:25] Khomeini was a brutal dictator, [25:27] but Americans [25:27] are not safer today. [25:30] Look, [25:30] Senator Graham [25:31] cheerlead us [25:32] into the Iraq war. [25:34] He cheerlead us [25:35] into the effort with Libya. [25:37] And Trump ran against him [25:38] in 2016. [25:40] He said regime change wars [25:42] are absolute failures. [25:45] And that has escaped Donald Trump. [25:49] And now you have a situation [25:50] in Iran [25:51] where the IRGC [25:52] is still in power. [25:54] The Assembly of Experts [25:55] are going to pick the new leader. [25:56] By the way, [25:57] they were picking the new leader [25:58] before we killed Ayatollah. [26:00] The Ayatollah was 86. [26:01] And the question is, [26:02] is the country [26:02] going to descend in civil war? [26:04] Are billions of our dollars [26:05] going to be spent there? [26:06] Are American troops [26:07] going to be at risk? [26:08] And Senator Graham [26:10] arguing that the IRGC [26:12] is at war with the U.S. [26:14] Democratic leaders, [26:15] obviously you, [26:16] are co-sponsoring a bill [26:18] with Congressman Massey [26:20] to force a vote [26:21] on the War Powers Resolution. [26:24] Congressman, [26:25] do you think [26:25] you have enough votes [26:27] for this to pass? [26:31] It's going to be very close, [26:32] but I believe [26:33] we will have every Democrat. [26:34] I can't believe [26:35] that there's going to be [26:36] a Democrat [26:36] who wants to vote [26:37] for another war [26:38] in the Middle East. [26:39] And then you have [26:40] not just Congressman Massey, [26:42] you have Congressman Davidson, [26:44] Congressman Biggs. [26:45] There are a number of people [26:45] on the Republican side [26:47] who agree [26:48] with Marjorie Taylor Greene. [26:49] You know, [26:50] Donald Trump said [26:51] that the Iraq War [26:52] was a disaster. [26:52] He said Libya [26:53] was a disaster. [26:54] He ran [26:55] because a big part [26:57] of the MAGA base [26:57] did not want [26:58] another war [26:59] in the Middle East. [27:00] They rejected [27:00] Lindsey Graham. [27:02] And yet here we have [27:03] Lindsey Graham [27:03] being the face [27:05] of Republican foreign policy, [27:07] as is evidenced [27:08] by the fact [27:08] that he was your lead guest. [27:10] I mean, [27:10] I believe this is a betrayal [27:12] of a decent chunk [27:14] of the MAGA base. [27:15] But you believe [27:16] that you ultimately [27:17] can eke out enough votes [27:18] for the War Powers Resolution, [27:20] which would require [27:21] the White House [27:21] to go to Congress [27:22] for more military action [27:24] in Iran? [27:25] You think [27:25] you can get this passed? [27:29] It depends [27:29] if we can keep [27:30] several Democrats [27:31] in line, [27:32] Josh Godheimer, [27:33] Congressman Markowitz, [27:36] folks who have been [27:37] on the fence. [27:38] But I believe [27:39] that this is [27:40] a disastrous vote [27:42] for any Democrat [27:42] to vote [27:43] for Donald Trump's [27:44] war in the Middle East. [27:45] So I hope [27:46] we will hold the line. [27:47] And then, [27:48] like I said, [27:48] there are a few Republicans [27:49] who share [27:51] Marjorie Taylor Greene [27:52] and Tucker Carlson [27:54] and others, [27:55] Rand Paul's view, [27:56] and we've got to [27:56] make the case to them. [27:57] It'll be a close vote. [27:58] Right now, [27:59] I'd say it's 40-60 to pass, [28:01] but we've got [28:01] a few days to work on it. [28:03] Some House Democrats, [28:04] as you know, [28:05] have actually already [28:05] come out against [28:06] this resolution [28:07] in the aftermath [28:08] of the strikes. [28:09] Here's what [28:10] Democratic Congressman, [28:11] you just mentioned him, [28:12] Greg Landsman, [28:13] said, [28:13] I don't support [28:14] the resolution, [28:15] which would require us [28:16] to completely abandon [28:18] our allies. [28:19] The strikes are [28:19] an attempt to prevent [28:20] further war, [28:22] not start one. [28:23] Does he have a point, [28:25] Congressman? [28:28] Just look at it [28:29] with common sense. [28:30] I mean, [28:30] even Lindsey Graham [28:31] said we're at war. [28:32] Of course, [28:33] we're at war with Iran. [28:35] We killed their leader. [28:36] We have over 100 [28:37] of our fighter jets [28:39] bombing them. [28:41] The point of [28:42] this resolution [28:43] is to say [28:44] we do not want [28:45] another war [28:46] in the Middle East, [28:46] or at least Congress [28:47] should opine on that, [28:49] should vote on that. [28:50] And if you're not voting [28:51] for this war powers [28:52] resolution, [28:52] you basically [28:53] have Lindsey Graham's view, [28:55] which is that [28:56] the president [28:56] gets to decide wars. [28:58] I admire this part [28:59] about Lindsey Graham. [29:00] He's at least [29:01] intellectually consistent. [29:02] He doesn't believe [29:03] in the war powers. [29:04] He believes the president [29:05] has authority [29:05] to go into war. [29:07] He is chair-led [29:07] for the war in Iraq, [29:08] for the war in Libya, [29:09] for 20 years in Afghanistan. [29:11] And he's basically, [29:12] that's his viewpoint. [29:13] So either you are [29:14] on the side [29:15] of no more Middle East wars [29:17] or you're on the side [29:18] of Lindsey Graham. [29:18] That's what this vote [29:20] is about. [29:20] Congressman, [29:21] what would a war powers [29:22] resolution do [29:23] at this point [29:24] to limit the administration, [29:25] given that they've already [29:26] launched this military offensive? [29:30] Well, that's exactly [29:31] when the war powers [29:32] resolution is supposed [29:33] to kick in. [29:35] If the president [29:36] launches an attack, [29:38] the Congress can say, [29:39] no, you need to stop [29:41] unless you have [29:41] Congress's authority. [29:43] It actually should be [29:43] an easy vote now. [29:45] It would have been [29:45] a harder vote [29:46] if the president [29:47] hadn't taken action [29:48] because people could say [29:49] he's just bluffing, [29:50] he's building up support [29:52] so that we could get a deal. [29:53] But now that he's [29:54] taken action, [29:55] this is exactly [29:55] when you need [29:56] the war powers resolution. [29:57] If we pass it [29:58] in the House [29:58] and the Senate, [29:59] it would be an enormous [30:00] message to the president. [30:02] And of course, [30:02] if it passes [30:03] and he signs it, [30:04] it would restrict his action. [30:06] Let me talk to you [30:06] about one of the big headlines [30:07] before the strikes [30:09] against Iran this week, [30:10] the fallout [30:11] over the Epstein files. [30:13] As you well know, [30:14] former President [30:14] Bill Clinton testified [30:16] before the House [30:16] Oversight Committee [30:18] behind closed doors [30:19] saying, [30:20] quote, [30:20] he had no idea [30:22] of the crimes [30:23] that Epstein [30:24] was committing. [30:25] Do you have [30:26] any outstanding [30:27] questions for [30:28] President Bill Clinton [30:30] about his relationship [30:31] with Jeffrey Epstein, [30:32] Congressman? [30:35] When the transcript [30:36] comes out, [30:37] I think people will see [30:38] that he answered [30:38] every question. [30:39] I actually think [30:40] they'll see that [30:40] some of the Democrats [30:42] asked him tougher questions [30:43] than even the Republicans. [30:45] And he sat there. [30:46] He didn't take the fifth. [30:47] He answered every question [30:48] fully. [30:49] And the American people [30:51] will be able to decide [30:52] on what they believe. [30:55] The point, though, [30:56] is that President Clinton [30:57] has set a precedent, [30:58] a new Clinton rule. [30:59] That means that Donald Trump [31:01] should do the same, [31:02] answer the questions. [31:03] Howard Lutnik [31:04] should do the same. [31:05] I'm working with a Republican [31:06] actually to subpoena [31:07] Howard Lutnik next week. [31:09] And I believe [31:09] he will come [31:10] before the committee. [31:10] And every person [31:12] who went to that island [31:13] or who corresponded [31:15] with Epstein [31:15] about going to his mansion [31:17] should be called [31:18] under oath [31:19] to tell us what they knew. [31:21] So you're going to subpoena [31:22] Howard Lutnik. [31:23] Do you plan to subpoena [31:24] President Trump? [31:25] And do you believe [31:26] you have the votes [31:27] to subpoena President Trump [31:28] to testify before the committee? [31:32] We have the votes [31:33] to subpoena Lutnik. [31:34] I don't believe [31:36] we have the votes [31:36] right now [31:37] to subpoena President Trump [31:39] because the Republicans [31:40] control the House. [31:42] And I don't think [31:43] they would vote [31:44] with us on that. [31:45] But when Robert Garcia [31:46] is chair of the [31:47] Oversight Committee, [31:48] we will have those votes. [31:50] And the Clinton rule [31:50] means that Donald Trump [31:52] and his family members [31:53] should testify. [31:54] By the way, [31:54] he should do it voluntarily. [31:55] I mean, he should look [31:56] at what President Clinton did. [31:58] He answered every question. [31:59] Why can't Donald Trump [32:00] do the same? [32:01] There's this question [32:02] of these three FBI interviews. [32:04] There's someone [32:05] who made allegations [32:06] against Donald Trump [32:07] that she was sexually [32:08] abused as a minor. [32:09] I want to be very clear. [32:10] There's no evidence [32:11] whether that's true or not, [32:13] but there were allegations made. [32:14] One of those witness interviews [32:16] was released. [32:17] Three of them are hidden [32:18] by the Justice Department. [32:20] Why are they hidden? [32:21] When will they be released? [32:22] These are the types of questions [32:23] Donald Trump needs to answer. [32:25] All right. [32:25] Congressman Ro Khanna, [32:26] thank you very much [32:27] for being here today. [32:28] We really appreciate it. [32:31] Thank you. [32:32] And when we come back, [32:34] Richard Engel [32:34] with a live report [32:36] from the Middle East next. [32:38] Welcome back. [32:45] And joining me now [32:45] is NBC News [32:46] Chief Foreign Correspondent [32:47] Richard Engel [32:48] in Beit Shemesh, Israel. [32:50] Richard, you're at the site [32:52] of an Iranian missile strike. [32:53] We can see some [32:55] of the damage behind you. [32:56] Tell us what you're [32:56] learning this morning. [32:58] So the attack took place [33:02] here a short while ago. [33:03] This was a single [33:04] ballistic missile, [33:05] according to an Israeli official. [33:07] And at least nine people [33:09] were killed here. [33:10] They are still looking [33:11] through this site, [33:12] trying to secure the area. [33:14] There was so much damage. [33:15] They do not know [33:17] if the victims [33:19] were men, women, or children. [33:20] The bodies were [33:21] that disfigured. [33:22] This is just one [33:23] of the ballistic missiles [33:25] that managed to get through [33:26] the Israeli and American [33:28] air defense system. [33:29] But that does not mean [33:30] that this war [33:32] is slowing down [33:33] from Israel's perspective. [33:35] In fact, [33:36] the Israeli defense minister [33:37] just announced [33:38] a short while ago [33:38] that Israel has achieved [33:39] what it's describing [33:40] as air superiority [33:41] over Iran, [33:43] meaning that Israeli jets, [33:45] presumably American jets [33:46] as well, [33:47] can stay over Tehran, [33:50] that they feel safe [33:51] in the air [33:52] and can conduct attacks [33:54] at a time and place [33:55] of their choosing. [33:56] And mostly what Israel [33:57] is firing on right now [33:59] are Iranian missile systems [34:00] and Iranian leaders. [34:02] But specifically, [34:03] they want to stop [34:04] the incoming strikes [34:05] so that there aren't [34:06] more scenes like this. [34:07] And according to Israeli officials, [34:09] they have been able [34:10] to kill about 40 [34:12] senior Iranian leaders [34:14] in addition [34:14] to the Supreme Leader himself. [34:17] And Richard, [34:18] tell us about the strike [34:20] in Tel Aviv. [34:21] You've been tracking [34:22] that as well. [34:23] So this strike happened. [34:27] It was a direct hit [34:28] on a house [34:29] just a few hours ago. [34:31] The strike in Tel Aviv [34:32] happened last night [34:33] around 10 o'clock local time. [34:35] It was very close [34:36] to where we were [34:36] at the time. [34:37] We watched this [34:38] incoming ballistic missile, [34:41] managed to get [34:42] through the Israeli [34:44] defensive network [34:45] and slammed right [34:46] into an apartment building. [34:47] At least one woman [34:49] was killed there. [34:50] But when I spoke [34:51] to people on the scene, [34:52] like I'm speaking [34:53] to people here, [34:54] they still support [34:55] this effort. [34:56] They say that they want [34:57] Israel and the United States [34:58] to do more [34:59] to stop Iran [35:00] and topple the regime. [35:02] All right, [35:02] Richard Engel, [35:03] please stay safe. [35:04] Thank you for your [35:05] incredible reporting. [35:06] We really appreciate it. [35:07] When we come back, [35:08] what will the Iran war [35:10] mean for politics [35:11] here at home? [35:12] The panel is next. [35:20] Welcome back. [35:20] The panel is here. [35:21] Carol Lee, [35:23] NBC News National Security Editor, [35:25] Politics Bureau Chief [35:26] and Senior Political Columnist [35:28] for Politico, [35:29] Jonathan Martin, [35:30] Jay Johnson, [35:31] former Homeland Security Secretary [35:32] under former President Obama, [35:34] and Stephen Hayes, [35:35] Editor and CEO [35:37] of The Dispatch. [35:38] Welcome to all of you, Carol. [35:39] Let me start with you. [35:40] This is the biggest [35:42] foreign policy decision [35:43] that President Trump [35:45] has made [35:45] in both administrations, [35:47] quite frankly. [35:47] You have new reporting [35:48] about what brought him [35:50] to this decision. [35:51] What do you know? [35:52] Well, first, [35:53] we'll step back. [35:53] There was months [35:54] of deliberations, [35:55] intelligence gathering, [35:57] military planning, [35:58] going through [35:58] the different options [35:59] and testing [36:00] diplomatic negotiations. [36:02] There's questions [36:03] about whether [36:03] that was serious [36:05] on either side. [36:07] But after saying [36:08] on Thursday, [36:09] they just held [36:09] a round of negotiations [36:10] on Thursday [36:11] coming out of that, [36:12] that there was positive. [36:13] There were good vibes [36:15] coming out of that. [36:15] Now, administration officials [36:17] are saying, [36:18] hey, those talks [36:18] actually were a disaster. [36:20] And that confirmed [36:21] for the president [36:21] that it was time [36:23] to take military action. [36:25] The president and his team [36:25] are also saying [36:26] that there was [36:27] this imminent threat. [36:28] They're saying [36:29] that there were concerns [36:30] that Iran would hit [36:31] the U.S. first [36:32] or U.S. interests [36:33] in the region first. [36:35] And there's real pressure [36:36] on the president, [36:37] you heard that [36:37] from Senator Kelly, [36:38] to explain what he means [36:40] by that. [36:40] Because in the run-up [36:41] to this, [36:41] he did not lay out [36:43] a case to the American people [36:44] for war with Iran, [36:46] what that would mean, [36:47] what it could mean [36:48] for Americans. [36:48] The first time [36:49] we heard the president [36:50] say that U.S. troops [36:51] could die [36:52] as a result of this decision [36:53] was when the bombs [36:56] were falling. [36:56] It was not even [36:57] during the State of the Union, [36:58] which he addressed, [36:59] which he had just given [37:00] several days earlier. [37:02] So there are real questions [37:03] about the justification [37:04] for this, [37:05] how long it will go on, [37:07] and what happens next. [37:08] Jay-Marc Carroll lays out [37:09] all of the critical questions, [37:11] this idea about [37:12] what exactly [37:13] was the imminent threat. [37:14] You heard me try to push [37:15] Senator Graham on that. [37:16] And what's the strategy [37:18] moving forward? [37:19] I'm not sure [37:20] that's been laid out. [37:21] Does the president [37:22] need to make his case, [37:23] as Carroll's saying? [37:24] Does he need to go [37:25] before the American people [37:26] and explain exactly [37:28] what the plan is here? [37:29] Well, the last time [37:29] we had a major war [37:30] in the Middle East, [37:31] President Bush did that. [37:33] There was a public campaign. [37:34] There was obviously [37:35] a vote in the Congress [37:37] for authorization. [37:37] There was none of that [37:39] this time. [37:39] And I think that's vital [37:40] if this war does spiral. [37:42] If you don't have the buy-in [37:43] up front from the American [37:45] people for the why, [37:47] it creates profound [37:48] political challenges [37:49] down the road. [37:50] If this becomes [37:52] a protracted war, [37:52] of course, [37:53] that's the big if. [37:54] A couple of things. [37:55] First, there has been [37:56] this long tension, [37:57] Kristen, as you know, [37:58] between the Hawks [37:59] and the Doves [38:00] within Donald Trump's orbit. [38:01] Well, guess what? [38:02] Lindsey Graham and the Hawks [38:03] won, and they won big. [38:05] This has been the prize [38:06] for years, [38:07] taking down the Ayatollah. [38:09] Secondly, [38:09] it's important to remember [38:10] what drives Donald Trump. [38:12] He craves a big legacy. [38:14] He wants to be a historic, [38:15] consequential figure. [38:16] He wanted to do that [38:17] through the Nobel Committee. [38:19] Didn't go so well. [38:21] He thought he could end [38:22] all these wars around the world [38:23] and he'd be recognized. [38:24] Didn't happen. [38:25] So now he's taking [38:26] the Hawks' approach, [38:27] going into Venezuela, [38:28] going into Iran, [38:29] and he's obviously [38:30] looking for a legacy that way. [38:32] The challenge is, [38:33] this is very different [38:34] from Venezuela. [38:36] It's a much larger country, [38:38] a more religious element, [38:39] obviously, there, [38:40] and you can't just install [38:41] somebody from the old regime [38:43] who will say, [38:44] we'll do a deal on the oil [38:45] and just move on. [38:47] Or say, [38:48] oh, you have a Nobel Peace Prize [38:49] winner in the wings. [38:51] We can have a free [38:51] and fair election next month. [38:53] This is a different country [38:54] in a different region. [38:55] Yeah, Stephen, [38:56] pick up on that point. [38:57] And the fact that we heard [38:58] from Senator Lindsey Graham, [38:59] this isn't as much [39:01] about regime change [39:02] as it is about [39:02] changing the threat, [39:04] which was a new line on this. [39:05] Very interesting argument [39:06] from Lindsey Graham. [39:07] Presumably he's coordinated [39:08] with the White House on this. [39:10] And, you know, [39:10] I think this is part [39:11] of the president's efforts [39:12] to get away from this idea [39:14] of regime change. [39:15] I think it's going to be [39:15] very, very difficult [39:17] for President Trump [39:18] to make a case [39:19] for sort of [39:21] the Venezuela model here. [39:22] And there won't be [39:22] regime change, [39:23] but we're changing [39:24] the nature of the threat. [39:25] I think he's likely [39:25] to have Republican support. [39:27] When you look back [39:28] at where we were [39:29] a decade ago [39:29] when you had [39:30] the Obama administration [39:31] sending pallets of cash, [39:33] you had John Kerry [39:34] lobbying Western nations [39:35] to do business [39:36] with the leading state [39:37] sponsor of terror, [39:38] Republicans are thrilled [39:39] that that's over. [39:40] A lot of people are thrilled [39:41] that that's over [39:42] and that the Ayatollah's gone. [39:44] Having said that, [39:44] when you look at [39:45] what President Trump [39:46] has said, [39:46] the lack of case [39:47] that was made, [39:48] the lack of strategy [39:49] that he's laid out, [39:50] when he says things [39:51] like he said [39:51] in his Truth Social post, [39:53] that he hopes [39:53] that the IRGC, [39:56] which is the terrorist arm [39:57] of the Iranian regime, [39:59] will, quote, [39:59] peacefully merge [40:00] with the Iranian people, [40:02] suggests a level [40:03] of naivete [40:04] that should have people worried. [40:05] Secretary Johnson, [40:06] the root of this, [40:07] this question, [40:08] was this legal? [40:09] Weigh in on that argument [40:11] that is now going to be raging [40:12] on Capitol Hill. [40:13] Right. [40:14] So, I'll tell you [40:15] how the state of the law is [40:17] and not what it should be. [40:19] What we did [40:21] was an act of war, [40:22] plain and simple. [40:23] I'm quite sure [40:24] that Lindsey Graham [40:26] and others would say [40:27] if a foreign government [40:29] launched airstrikes [40:30] on our nation's capital [40:31] and took up [40:32] the U.S. government leadership, [40:33] we'd say it was an act of war, [40:34] without a doubt. [40:35] Article I, Section 8 [40:36] of the Constitution [40:37] assigns to Congress [40:39] the authority [40:40] to declare war. [40:41] That basically [40:42] is now a nullity. [40:44] The War Powers Resolution [40:45] is close [40:45] to being a nullity. [40:47] What's happened [40:47] over multiple administrations [40:49] is the Department of Justice [40:51] Office of Legal Counsel, [40:52] which is like the Supreme Court [40:54] of the Executive Branch, [40:55] has issued opinions [40:56] that say [40:57] the president can [40:58] deploy the U.S. military [41:00] into hostilities [41:01] any time it's in an important [41:04] national interest, [41:05] so long as it doesn't rise [41:07] to a war in nature, [41:08] scope and duration. [41:09] That is virtually [41:10] a limitless test. [41:12] No court, [41:13] no lawyer [41:14] is going to second guess [41:15] what the president says [41:16] is in the national interest. [41:19] Congress may, [41:21] by majority vote, [41:23] enact, [41:24] push through a resolution [41:26] under the War Powers Resolution [41:27] saying that he needs [41:29] to stop in Iran. [41:31] In order for that [41:32] to have any legal effect, [41:33] it has to be tendered [41:34] to the president [41:35] for a signature. [41:36] If he vetoes it, [41:37] I seriously doubt [41:38] there will be [41:39] a two-thirds vote [41:40] in Congress to override. [41:42] So that's the state [41:44] of the law right now. [41:45] And the court [41:46] of public opinion, [41:47] Jonathan Martin, [41:48] is going to weigh in [41:49] because primaries [41:50] get underway [41:51] in earnest on Tuesday [41:52] and two, [41:53] three critical states [41:55] were looking closely [41:56] at Texas [41:57] and North Carolina [41:57] where this is going [41:59] to loom [42:00] over what voters decide. [42:02] And look, [42:03] the last time [42:04] that we had [42:04] a major midterm [42:06] that was held [42:06] against the backdrop [42:07] of America at War, [42:09] of course, [42:09] was 2002. [42:10] Very different, [42:11] though, [42:11] because that's [42:11] the aftermath [42:12] of the U.S. homelands [42:13] being attacked [42:13] on 9-11. [42:15] This is clearly [42:15] a war of choice [42:16] and a war [42:17] that we're prosecuting [42:18] offensively overseas. [42:20] Look, [42:20] I think the Democratic base [42:22] was already galvanized [42:23] against President Trump, [42:24] and I think [42:25] this is only going [42:26] to inflame them further. [42:27] The question I have [42:28] on the Republican side [42:29] is if this war [42:32] does become [42:32] a matter of weeks [42:33] and months [42:34] and Iran becomes [42:36] messier than Venezuela, [42:38] does that create fissures? [42:39] You cited MTG's quote earlier. [42:42] Does it create fissures [42:43] among the Republican base, [42:44] the MAGA base, [42:45] in which they were [42:46] already having trouble [42:47] ginning up turnout [42:48] with Trump not on the ballot? [42:50] Boy, [42:50] does it get harder [42:51] if you've got 25%, [42:52] 30% of the MAGA crowd, [42:54] the more isolationist [42:56] Rand Paul crowd [42:57] that, you know, [42:58] is unhappy [42:59] and they're staying at home? [43:00] That could really deepen [43:01] the challenge [43:01] that the GOP has this fall. [43:03] Carol, [43:03] what about that [43:04] and does the White House [43:05] have a strategy [43:06] heading into the midterms [43:07] to address [43:08] what could be those fissures? [43:10] Well, [43:10] I think it depends. [43:11] A lot of this depends [43:12] just on how it plays out. [43:15] You know, [43:15] I think that we're very, [43:17] we're, what, [43:17] on day two of this [43:19] and so we just, [43:21] from their perspective, [43:22] you know, [43:22] ideally, [43:24] the best case scenario, [43:25] this reshapes [43:26] the Middle East. [43:26] Worst case, [43:27] or from their perspective, [43:29] you know, [43:29] absent that, [43:31] this effort [43:32] would degrade [43:33] Iran's ability [43:34] to do harm [43:35] in the region [43:36] and to the U.S. [43:37] Now, [43:37] the problem is [43:37] there's a lot of risk, [43:38] a lot of uncertainty. [43:40] Iran retaliated [43:40] very quickly [43:41] and broadly [43:42] in the region. [43:43] You have [43:43] protesters [43:44] who are trying [43:45] to storm [43:45] U.S. embassies [43:47] in Pakistan [43:47] and Iraq. [43:48] You have U.S. [43:49] law enforcement [43:50] here [43:51] who are worried [43:51] about potential threats [43:53] that could come. [43:55] And so, [43:55] all of those things [43:56] have to continue [43:58] to play out [43:58] and it really, [43:59] it remains to be seen [44:00] what exactly [44:01] is going to happen [44:02] in the coming days [44:02] and weeks. [44:03] Stephen, [44:03] that speaks to [44:04] this divide [44:06] in the MAGA base [44:07] and part of what [44:07] Marjorie Taylor Greene [44:08] was arguing [44:09] that that's why [44:11] she says [44:11] President Trump, [44:13] Vice President J.D. Vance [44:14] campaigned against [44:15] regime change [44:16] because of the messiness, [44:17] because of the uncertainty [44:18] that Carol lays out. [44:19] Yeah, I think [44:20] what you would hear [44:21] from the White House [44:22] is the President [44:23] said he was always [44:24] going to put [44:24] national interests first. [44:25] This is in our [44:26] national interest [44:26] to keep, [44:27] to defang [44:28] the world's greatest [44:29] state sponsor of terror [44:30] and that's what he's doing. [44:32] He doesn't, [44:33] I mean, [44:33] I think it's hard [44:33] for us to imagine [44:34] a President [44:35] who spent [44:35] three minutes [44:36] of his hour [44:37] and 47 minutes [44:37] State of the Union [44:38] who within 12 hours [44:40] of the strikes [44:41] was talking about [44:41] off-ramps [44:42] sending boots [44:43] on the ground [44:43] in Iran. [44:44] So I think [44:44] they will say [44:45] this is going [44:45] to be a limited [44:46] engagement. [44:46] I think the real [44:47] question is though [44:47] like, [44:48] can you do it? [44:49] Can you, [44:49] Secretary Johnson, [44:50] if you're in [44:51] the situation room, [44:52] what's your advice [44:53] to take one [44:55] of those off-ramps [44:55] if that's the goal? [44:57] I would. [44:57] It seems to me [44:59] that once a decade [45:00] or once a generation [45:01] we have to relearn [45:02] the mistakes [45:03] of history. [45:06] Saying to [45:07] the 93 million [45:09] people in Iran, [45:10] okay, [45:10] I've decapitated [45:11] your leadership, [45:12] take your country back, [45:13] sounds an awful lot [45:14] to me like [45:15] we will be greeted [45:16] as liberators. [45:17] That was the prediction [45:18] in Iraq. [45:20] I worry about [45:21] the public mood [45:23] now in Iran, [45:24] now that the [45:25] so-called [45:26] great Satan [45:27] has taken out [45:28] their supreme leader [45:29] who was supreme leader [45:30] since 1989. [45:32] What will be [45:33] the public mood there? [45:34] Or is it going [45:34] to be chaos? [45:36] Lindsey said [45:38] he rejects [45:38] the pottery barn [45:39] analogy. [45:41] But where's [45:43] the opposition? [45:44] Who's going [45:44] to put this country [45:45] back together again? [45:47] And I also worry [45:48] and I'm interested [45:48] to know [45:49] should we be [45:50] on any type [45:51] of heightened threat [45:51] alert here [45:52] in the homeland? [45:54] The department [45:54] that is responsible [45:55] for telling us [45:55] that is defunded [45:57] right now. [45:58] Well, this is [45:58] an important point [45:59] actually is [46:00] the DHS right now. [46:02] And I think [46:02] the Republicans [46:03] in Congress [46:04] who have very little [46:05] faith in Christy Noem, [46:06] they see an opportunity [46:07] here that we are [46:09] now at risk [46:09] potentially and you [46:10] have to get [46:11] somebody more serious [46:11] there at the department [46:12] and fund the department [46:13] at the same time. [46:14] Yeah, I thought [46:14] that Pottery Barn [46:15] reference was fascinating. [46:17] Guys, great conversation. [46:18] Thank you so much. [46:20] Before we go, [46:21] we here at Meet the Press [46:22] want to take a moment [46:23] to acknowledge [46:24] our dear friend [46:25] and colleague [46:26] Savannah Guthrie [46:26] and the entire [46:27] Guthrie family. [46:29] It has now been [46:30] one month [46:31] since their beloved [46:32] mother Nancy Guthrie [46:33] was abducted [46:34] from her home [46:34] in the middle [46:35] of the night. [46:36] The Guthrie family [46:37] is offering a reward [46:38] of $1 million [46:39] for information [46:40] leading to [46:41] Mrs. Guthrie's recovery. [46:42] We urge you [46:43] to please call [46:44] the tip line. [46:45] Here it is. [46:46] 1-800-CALL-FBI [46:48] if you have [46:48] any information [46:50] to provide [46:50] to authorities. [46:51] Again, [46:51] 1-800-CALL-FBI. [46:54] We are thinking [46:55] of and praying [46:56] for Savannah [46:57] and her entire family [46:58] every day. [46:59] Please, please [47:00] help us bring [47:01] Nancy Guthrie home. [47:03] That is all [47:04] for today. [47:04] Thank you so much [47:05] for watching. [47:06] We will be back [47:06] next week [47:07] because if it's Sunday, [47:09] it's Meet the Press. [47:09] We thank you for watching [47:33] and remember, [47:34] stay updated [47:34] on breaking news [47:35] and top stories [47:36] on the NBC News app [47:37] or watch live [47:38] on our YouTube channel.