United States Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, appeared on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing to discuss ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran, support for American service members, and funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Addressing recent casualties among U.S. service members, Hagerty said: “These are some of the most difficult messages ever. I think back to what happened in Afghanistan at Abbey Gate [in August 2021]. I had to call Ryan Knauss’s parents. He was one of the 13 service members killed in that event. This is one of the toughest things that one has to do, and I feel for the families. But I’d say this, you add these recent casualties to the long list of what’s happened since this regime took control back in 1979. You think back to the Beirut Marine barracks bombing, over 200 American lives taken. Through what happened on October 7, 2023, when 1,200 people were slaughtered again by Hamas, the proxy of Iran, over 40 Americans included in that number, as well as hostages. This continues to add up. What President [Donald] Trump has done is taken decisive action to make certain that Iran no longer will have this capability to terror throughout the region.”
Hagerty also commented on Democratic efforts regarding presidential authority: “I think the Democrats will fail on this as well. Their only play seems to be resistance, and what we need to be doing is coming together. This is a time when America needs to step up and lock arms–not only as Americans, but also with our allies. I think what we’re going to see is our allies in the region stepping forward as well. Iran has made the woeful decision to launch attacks on its [neighbors] throughout the region. They’re going to step up and be aligned with us. And if you look at the allies of Iran–I’m talking about China, Russia, Venezuela, North Korea–they’re not doing anything. They certainly didn’t step up during the 12-day war. I think Iran realizes it’s isolated. This axis of evil that’s emerged, they are isolated, and they’re going to be further isolated now. President Trump will have far more leverage in dealing with all of them.”
Discussing military objectives against Iran’s missile capabilities and regional security dynamics moving forward: “Let’s take the off-ramp into context of what the objective is. The objective here is to take out Iran’s short-range ballistic missile capabilities. We’ve taken a significant first step on Saturday. We’re going to continue to do this–not only to take out their stockpiles, but to take out their ability to launch. Now that the Israelis have taken out all of the air power and air control from Iran, we have free rein to go in and hunt and seek and destroy these capabilities. If you think about what Iran did after our bunker bombs several months ago, we told them that was the end of the nuclear program. We completely destroyed it. President Trump was clear that Midnight Hammer was a complete success. Now what have they done? Started moving back in the direction of creating nuclear capabilities. It is over. President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have had enough of this.It’s over.I thinkthe regime sees this.They may be taking some last-ditch measures,but their days are numbered.And everyone in theregionis celebratingthis.Just look atthe photos,the imagesof peopleon thestreets ofIran.Nowis agenerational opportunityfor themto taketheir countryback.”
On domestic security risks related to border policies: “We’ve been concerned about this since Joe Biden collapsed the border back in 2021.Millionsof peoplehave comeinto countryunvetted.Wedon’tknowwho’shere,and sleepercellscertainlyarearealconcern.IthinkthelastthingweshouldbedoingrightnowisdefundingtheDepartmentofHomelandSecurity,w hichisexactlywhattheDemocratshavedone.Weneedtogetbacktofullyfundingthatandmakingcertainthatourhomelandissafeandsecure.”
Regarding negotiations over funding for Homeland Security: “It’s up tothe Democrats.They’vebeensofarcompletely unserious.Theysaythey’redoingthistoblockICEactivities.WefundedICElastyear[viaWorkingFamiliesTaxCutsAct].Again,thisisjustanotherirresponsible‘resistance’movebytheDemocratsbecausethisseemstobetheonlyplaytheyhaveintheirplaybook.Weneedtolo ckarmsrightnowandrealizethatAmericaisstandingattheprecipiceofmajorchangeintheworld.We can lead itina verypositive direction.PresidentTrumpisdoingthis,takingonchallengesthatpriorpresidentshavealwaysshirkedfromdealingwith.We’vestep pedupanddealtwithIran.Theyhad2 ,500ballisticmissiles.Theyweregoingto8 ,000.Westeppedinandstoppedthat.Thatabilitytoharassandmaimpeoplethroughouttheregion.Thatisnowcomingtoanend.Weshouldbeworkingtogetheronthis.Weshouldbesupportingoneanother.IthinkAmericawillbroadlysupportthiseffort.”
Senator Hagerty represents Tennessee as a Republican senator according to his official website. His office provides services such as casework assistance through district offices across regions including Chattanooga and Knoxville as noted online. Hagerty holds positions on several Senate committees including Banking; Foreign Relations; Appropriations; and Rules per official records.
His office offers support for constituents statewide through multiple district locations as well as a Washington D.C., site according to public information.