Crenshaw says Trump is "doing what's need" in the Middle East conflict

Texas Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw said Sunday that President Trump is "doing what's needed" arsenic the Pentagon is acceptable to deploy a fewer 1000 much Marines to the Middle East arsenic tensions escalate betwixt the United States and Iran.

"I deliberation it signals that there's a seriousness of supporting immoderate contingency operations mightiness beryllium needed," the congressman and a erstwhile Navy SEAL said connected "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." 

"If you're going to bash this, which we person done, you request to spot it through," helium added.

When asked astir the messages being sent to U.S. troops by Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who earlier this period said determination would beryllium "no anserine rules of engagement" and "no politically close wars," Crenshaw commended Hegseth connected what helium said is wide subject connection for troops to abide by.

"If you fought successful these wars successful Iraq and Afghanistan, you'd beryllium good acquainted with atrocious rules of engagement," Crenshaw said. "You cognize the benignant of happening that says, look, you can't sprout unless you're changeable at. What he's saying is that we are targeting Iranian subject without quarter."

Hegseth is "making it precise wide for our military," Crenshaw said, adding that it is thing the U.S. has lacked successful galore past conflicts.

Crenshaw besides said he's not disquieted that the connection could inflame enemies.

"The rules of engagement volition beryllium precise wide and successful spot and successful penning for our troops," helium said. "I don't deliberation it sends immoderate incorrect connection ... I deliberation it sends precisely the close message."

Islamophobic rhetoric successful GOP is "fairly fringe"

Asked astir immoderate anti-Muslim messages that emerged from immoderate Republican lawmakers successful caller days — including Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama who posted an representation of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani astatine a Ramadan lawsuit on with a photograph of the 9/11 panic attack, and Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee who said Muslims don't beryllium successful American society — Crenshaw called the Islamophobic rhetoric wrong his enactment "fairly fringe."

Crenshaw, whose word arsenic typical of Texas's 2nd legislature territory is acceptable to extremity pursuing his loss successful the GOP superior earlier this month, past said, "I mean, the information of the substance is, extremist Islamism is bad, right? We've ever known that ... That should not beryllium a arguable connection astatine all."

"There's a Republican struggle ongoing close present implicit Israel and the antisemitism issues, and so, you know, 1 could marque the statement that speaking retired against it has lone inflamed it," Crenshaw said. "So, look, I inactive deliberation that's precise fringe. I don't deliberation that's- that's surely not the administration's position. And like, we're going to spell aft extremist Islam, that's wherefore we request to money agencies similar DHS, and that's what we're going to do."

Misinformation blamed for superior loss

On his caller nonaccomplishment successful the primary, Crenshaw has blamed misinformation arsenic 1 of the factors.

"I'm a unsocial Republican, you know, I've been the people of online smears and conspiracies for a precise agelong time. My predetermination was fundamentally a merchandise of that," helium said. 

"The acquisition to beryllium learned is like, you've got to get the information out. You've got to try," Crenshaw said. "But ultimately, this is simply a question for the American people. Are you going to judge everything you work online oregon that's sent to you successful your mail?"

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