A MAGA lawmaker and close Trump ally was called out Monday for his comments about troops dying during the Iran war as the United States has launched new strikes.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) spoke with CNN anchor Phil Mattingly about American casualties in the ongoing conflict, which has left 17 U.S. service members dead, including at least three who died during the last several days.
"My condolences go out to the families of our service men and women that are killed," Gimenez said. "That is the nature of warfare. We will have some casualties."
Gimenez argued that the United States has had a "low number of casualties" and acknowledged that this might not be comforting for Gold Star families.
The internet had a strong response to the Republican's remarks.
"Just brush off needless loss of life like an a------, it's Trump 101," progressive political commentator Rodger Williams wrote on X.
"Wow, so heartwarming. SMH. This regime is nothing but ghouls," the X account Gig - The Great Gig in the Sky, which has more than 47,000 followers and frequently comments on politics, wrote.
"Easy for a punka-- politician with no skin in the game to say about troops to have sacrificed for something completely unnecessary," Marc Xavier Adams, who self-describes as retired USMC and a Democrat, wrote on X.
"So disrespectful," user xtine_mac, a political commentator, wrote on X.
"It's sickening how Rep Gimenez talks about young people dying in a war as if their lives were not worth much. If you are going to spend our nation's most valuable assets you should make sure that's the only choice you have. That's certainly not true in this case," attorney George Suggs wrote on Bluesky.
"Stunningly callous," Bluesky user njcnlr, who self-identifies as a former communications director for a hunger relief agency, wrote.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez on fallen US troops: "That is the nature of warfare. We will have some casualties." pic.twitter.com/hhFk0WKGGr
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 20, 2026