Fox News host Mark Levin publicly rebuked Sen. Roger Marshall after Marshall defended part of President Trump’s MOU with Iran that does not limit Iran’s ballistic missiles. Levin called Marshall unfit for office and condemned the omission of missiles from the agreement as an “outrage.” Marshall told CNN he would prefer Iran not have such missiles but argued Tehran must be able to “defend themselves,” a stance that prompted criticism from Democrats, including Sen. Chris Murphy.
Mark Levin Slams Sen. Roger Marshall Over Support for Trump’s Iran Deal: ‘Should Never Be Elected Dogcatcher’
Fox News host Mark Levin unleashed a blistering critique of Republican Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) on X after Marshall’s contentious CNN interview defending aspects of President Trump’s recent memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran — most notably the deal’s omission of limits on Iran’s ballistic missile program.
Levin’s Rebuke
Levin called the defense of parts of the MOU “truly stunning” and singled out Marshall by name. In his post, Levin wrote that Marshall argued the “Iranian terror regime,” which Levin described as having harmed Americans and supported terrorism abroad, nonetheless “needs ballistic missiles ‘to be able to defend themselves.’” Levin added sharply:
“This man should never be elected dogcatcher.”
Levin also criticized the omission of ballistic missiles from the MOU as “an outrage,” arguing the program poses a serious threat and warning that downplaying missile risks is “utterly irresponsible.” He referenced past U.S. concerns that Iran’s missiles could form a “circle of protection” around nuclear sites and stressed that, in his view, Iran should not be allowed to possess such capabilities even if other countries do.
Marshall’s CNN Appearance
Marshall spoke with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, where he was asked whether he was comfortable with Iran retaining long-range missiles — a point President Trump defended by saying other countries also have missile capabilities. Marshall replied,
“I prefer that they not, but they have to defend themselves.”He acknowledged that Iran’s long-range missiles are a threat to the United States but said restricting them could risk drawing the region into a prolonged conflict, saying that preventing Iran from defending itself could lead to a “forever war.”
Political Backlash
Marshall’s remarks drew criticism from across the political spectrum. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) circulated a clip of the interview and criticized what he described as inconsistent rhetoric about the threat posed by Iran’s missiles, writing that others had previously framed those missiles as an “existential threat.” Media outlets widely reported the exchange and Levin’s subsequent response.
The exchange highlights the deep tensions within and between parties over how to handle Iran’s military capabilities and what concessions — if any — are acceptable in diplomatic agreements.
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