Sen. Kennedy Urges Trump To Deliver Nationwide Address On Iran — Explain Why, Goals And Exit Plan

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said Sunday that President Donald Trump should speak directly to the nation about the U.S. role in the Iran conflict — explaining why the United States entered, what it aims to accomplish and how it plans to conclude operations.

Kennedy told CBS' Face the Nation he would oppose a long-term troop deployment. "I would not send in troops," he said. "We could send in troops and we could open the strait. But once you send them in, you've got to leave them there. And that creates a whole new host of problems."

On reports the administration might resume strikes after the midterms, Kennedy said he had not seen the classified intelligence cited in those stories and declined to endorse renewed attacks without that information.

Kennedy urged the White House to sustain sanctions and the maritime blockade while simultaneously pursuing a solution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which he said was at least partially closed by Iranian actions.

"The truth is, if you're fair minded at all, Iran is a sucking chest wound, and the world is safer for it," Kennedy said.

He warned the partial closure of the strait was raising global oil prices and increasing costs for everyday Americans. "Now, there's just one problem. The strait is at least partially closed, and it's affected the price of oil and oil's in everything, including gasoline. And it's painful as hell," he said.

Kennedy said the U.S. must either negotiate a settlement that reopens the strait or intensify its military campaign: "We've got to either figure out a way to settle this thing, to get the strait open or to escalate."

Turning to the domestic impact, Kennedy argued voters are more worried about the rising cost of living than partisan disputes. "When moms and dads lie down to sleep at night and can't, they're not lying there worried about whether the football coaches are happy or whether the press is biased... They're worried about the cost of living," he said. He added many voters sense a link between the conflict and higher household expenses, even if they do not fully understand the connection.

With midterm elections approaching, Kennedy urged Trump to focus public messaging on the economy and to explain U.S. objectives in Iran. "It would help if the president would stay focused on the cost of living. And I would like to see him give a nationwide address," he said. If the president declines, Kennedy suggested Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, could brief Americans on why the U.S. intervened, what progress has been made and how the U.S. plans to withdraw.

Kennedy also defended the administration's decision to cancel nearly $1 billion in congressionally approved spending, rejecting Sen. Susan Collins' view that the move undermines Congress' power of the purse. "I love Susan like a taco, but she's wrong," he quipped.

He said he supports trimming wasteful outlays but would oppose cuts to National Institutes of Health grants. "I don't think they ought to do it to the NIH grants, but this is spending porn that they're cutting," he said.

Finally, Kennedy criticized the use of taxpayer funds for promotional ads by public officials, saying no elected official — including the president, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem or himself — should spend public money on private self-promotion.

Kennedy said he will continue pressing the president to address the nation, even if the president "barely takes suggestions."

© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.