Show-Me State Times

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) appeared on Fox News’ "The Ingraham Angle" to discuss President Trump’s recent announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel. The interview focused on the events leading up to the ceasefire and the role played by the United States.

During his appearance, Schmitt described the operation as “a real master class,” noting the use of B-2 bombers that launched from Missouri for a targeted mission. He said, “It was a precision, very limited engagement, those B-2’s took off from my home state of Missouri, executed something pretty remarkable. In the air for 30 hours, basically, dropped those bunker busters on something the size of a wheelbarrow to take out their nuclear program. Again, very precise and very limited.”

Schmitt credited President Trump for his approach following the military action. “And then President Trump, which I think is very unique to him, certainly in the presidents over the last 30 years, he immediately got on the phone and tried to broker peace. He is the ‘Peace President.’ That’s his natural inclination,” Schmitt said.

He further reflected on the broader implications of this diplomatic effort: “Who would have thought if you were sitting here a couple years ago that you would have Israel and Iran at the table here with a ceasefire, Hezbollah, Hamas, completely wiped out. The Abraham accords maybe on the march. President Trump has done something that nobody could imagine.”

Schmitt emphasized what he called Trump's distinctive foreign policy style: “He did it in a way that is true to sort of his American realism, right? He takes these enemies as they are. These actors on the world stage as they are. Not as an idealogue. Not as somebody who wants permanent regime change or to get pulled into a Middle East war.”

He also addressed debates within Washington about U.S. engagement abroad: “There were a lot of voices out here in permanent Washington that wanted more engagement. President Trump had that restraint and that instinct to do what needed to be done to bring about peace.”

In closing remarks during his television appearance, Schmitt said: “I think he did in a way that was very limited, with the specific goal of bringing about peace. This really wasn’t about engaging abroad or war. He was very clear about that.” He added praise for Trump’s diplomacy: “Again, in his ability to get on the phone with world leaders and get us to a point now– where in 24 hours you are going to have an end to a war that could have gone on for much longer.”

Schmitt referenced discussions among fellow senators about shifting U.S. foreign policy away from previous interventionist approaches: “Now, all this needs to hold, but he is the embodiment of, I think, a new foreign policy that many of us, including me, J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio who were talking about this, this kind of realistic approach. Getting away from this wandering Wilsonian adventurism that’s been dominating the foreign policy culture here.”

He concluded by calling it “an incredible day and great feat.”