Senate Republican confronted on CNN over Trump admin's own 'war' rhetoric

CNN anchor Kasie Hunt challenged Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) on Monday over President Donald Trump's previous claims about wars in the Middle East as the U.S. launched military strikes against Iran.

Hunt pressed Mullin to describe the difference between what Trump has said in the past about conflicts in the Middle East, particularly throughout his campaign for second term as president, compared to what was happening now in the war with Iran.

"Well, this isn't Iraq. We made that very clear. Pete Hegseth, Secretary Hegseth, made that very clear. This isn't the same approach," Mullin said.

"Keep in mind, wetook out the leader within anhour, there was there was no direction between where we weregoing with Iraq and where we'regoing with Iran," Mullin said. "When we haveclear, precise targets thatwe're hitting, we're takingout their ability to launchmissiles at us and our assetsaround the region, we're clearlynot going to allow them — ever — tohave a nuclear weapon. And thatis very clear. We wantto make sure that we'reprotecting all of our assets athome and abroad, and we wanted to eliminate the threat. The threathas been around for 47 years. The Ayatollah has had a dream sincehe first came into office in1979 to create a nuclear weapon.And there's no question if hehad the opportunity, itwouldn't be if, it would be amatter of when he would use iton us."

Mullin argued that the U.S. had decided it would never be caught "flat-footed" after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, which was what prompted its attacks in Iran.

"We knewwhat the Ayatollah's intentionswere," Mullin said. "They had been chantingdeath to America for 47 years.We gave them that opportunity,not a war of choice. And itdidn't..."

Hunt interjected.

"Is this not a war of choice?The president ran, and did thepresident not run on notstarting a war with Iran?"

Mullin tried to argue that Trump has ended multiple wars, and then asserted it wasn't a war with Iran — contrary to what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier Monday, calling the attacks "war."

Hunt pushed back against the MAGA lawmaker again.

"Is it really not a war?" Hunt asked.