Sen. John Kennedy has a blunt name for the men running Iran: “reptiles.”

The Louisiana Republican delivered the line Wednesday, September 23, on Fox News’ Will Cain Show, then widened the insult to the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea. He singled out Chinese President Xi Jinping as the group’s “chief reptile.”

Here is the exchange in Kennedy’s own words:

Kennedy was talking about the governments of four U.S. adversaries. He was using “reptiles” as an insult, not making a literal claim about anyone’s species.

The language was vintage Kennedy: colorful, sharp and aimed squarely at leaders he says cannot be trusted. But the interview was more than a sound bite.

ADVERTISEMENT

It came as President Trump weighed the next phase of the conflict with Iran and welcomed Xi for high-stakes talks in Washington.

Breitbart News reports that Kennedy argued China has the influence to get Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil shipments. He contended Beijing is choosing not to use that influence.

Kennedy also said he believes the United States has accomplished its military objectives against Iran’s nuclear program and air defenses. His assessment was his own; it does not settle the larger dispute over Iran’s capabilities or the future of the strait.

The senator made that assessment again on his own account later that day:

For Kennedy, that leaves a hard strategic question: if other countries depend on the waterway, how long should American forces carry the burden of keeping it open? He suggested President Trump may eventually decide the United States has done enough and leave other powers to face the cost of a closed strait.

That is the policy argument beneath the “reptiles” line. Kennedy sees Iran and China as partners in a crisis that continues to threaten trade, energy markets and American interests.

One widely shared repost of the interview has a caption asking whether the government just “admitted” to reptiles on live television:

The video is real. The “admission” is not.

Kennedy was describing how he views the leadership of Iran and three other countries while pressing a concrete question about China and the Strait of Hormuz.

ADVERTISEMENT

Whether anyone agrees with his animal imagery, the senator made his position unmistakable: he distrusts Tehran, believes Xi can pressure it, and wants President Trump to consider how much more responsibility America should shoulder.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.