The next is the transcript of the interview with GOP Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on April 12, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re again now with Republican Congressman Mike Turner. Thanks for coming again to city early to speak to us in particular person.
REP. MIKE TURNER: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let’s begin on our polling, since you, like many individuals proper now, are operating for re-election.
REP. TURNER: Proper
MARGARET BRENNAN: You take a look at these- this ballot, 64% of the American folks disapprove of the battle. 62% say the President has no clear plan. There are these damaging perceptions of the president’s dealing with of the financial system and inflation. Dayton is not immune. Gasoline costs up a buck from the place they had been identical time final 12 months. How are you explaining to folks in your district that this battle is price it?
REP. TURNER: Nicely, first off, no- no battle ever polls nicely. I imply, when there is a battle occurring, nobody says it is being dealt with nicely, as a result of it’s a must to undergo the battle. The president has articulated, I believe, very nicely, that that is about making certain that Iran doesn’t grow to be a nuclear state. And nobody is prepared to commerce decrease fuel costs for Iran changing into a nuclear state. And when Vice President Vance stood on the podium and stated that the negotiations had damaged off as a result of Iran was not prepared to declare that they might not grow to be a nuclear state. That ought to have despatched a chill, each by means of Europe and around the globe. And I believe you already know for everybody, as a result of that really is what this is- is about. That- that places away what you already know, what Senator Warner was attempting to dismissively say, that this was not an imminent menace, and what everybody else has been saying in Europe and across the world–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Nicely the president says its an ambition.
REP. TURNER: However that- that- that it is a a direct, the IAEA, Grossi the director, had stated they had been weeks away from having sufficient materials to have a nuclear bomb–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –He stated there was no proof that they had been pursuing a nuclear weapon, he could not rule it out.
REP. TURNER: –he said- they had been weeks- they had been weeks away. And- and now you could have it. Not can folks say that they did not- didn’t have the ambition. Right here they’re all the best way on the desk. They’ve been in this- this large battle, and so they’re unwilling to say they are not going to pursue–
(CROSSTALK STARTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, and the American folks in our polling–
REP TURNER: –they’re unwilling to pursue the nuclear weapon–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –are for stopping that. Nevertheless, the negotiation itself is proof of the truth that militarily, you can not obtain destruction of nuclear ambition. Is it not?
REP. TURNER: No, it isn’t, as a result of they’re nonetheless ongoing, and- and the President has–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — What’s ongoing?
REP TURNER: That this- this- this battle, this- this act, the negotiations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The president stated the battle’s gained.
REP. TURNER: That is- this isn’t over. And as it isn’t over, Iran goes to have to come back the belief as- as- keep in mind the JCPOA, the unique enrichment deal that Obama had negotiated, the place he stated, we’re not going to permit them to have a nuclear weapon, however we’re simply going to watch–
MARGARET BRENNAN: They usually did not have a nuclear weapon. They usually do not have a nuclear weapon now.
REP. TURNER: –and we’re gonna watch- and we will watch them enrich till they get shut sufficient, after which we’ll take army motion. Europe- everybody was a celebration to this deal. This isn’t just–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — However the president’s saying they nonetheless will not conform to not get a nuclear weapon and he cannot cease them–
REP. TURNER: –this is not only a United States problem, as we noticed throughout this battle the place Iran of their missile know-how despatched a missile all the best way to Diego Garcia. This was a get up name for Europe. They now have missile know-how that may attain Europe. It is a regime, a terrorist regime, that we can not enable to have a nuclear weapon
(CROSSTALK ENDS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you stated the president has been very clear right here in his objectives and intent. Our polling exhibits the American folks aren’t persuaded in the identical approach you’re. Let me run by means of among the issues he stated on the Hormuz Strait. On the outset of the battle March 3, he stated the Navy would start escorting tankers it doesn’t matter what, the US will make sure the free movement of power to the world. March 9, he stated he was nonetheless eager about taking it over. March 15, he stated it was another person’s downside. Our allies would handle it. Perhaps we should not even be there. We do not want it. We’ve plenty of oil. Six days later, he threatened on-line, the U.S. would assault Iran’s energy crops if it did not open the strait inside 48 hours. March 26 he went again to blaming allies, saying he is disillusioned in NATO–
REP. TURNER: – Margaret, in conflict- there’s–
MARGARET BRENNAN: After which he introduced the 2 week stop fireplace saying Iran had agreed to open strait–
REP. TURNER: –a battle is–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –I am not finished. As a result of yesterday, he said–
REP TURNER: –conflict goes to be fluid.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –that CENTCOM introduced they’re sending two ships to set the situations for clearing mines. This morning, he stated the Navy goes to start out blockading the strait and interdict ships. Is that the ultimate reply? I imply, are you able to see right here why the general public does not suppose the president has a transparent technique?
REP. TURNER: Your adversary- your adversary has a vote on this too, and so they have a place in it too which there have been simply negotiations, simply yesterday–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Choose a place? They modified inside days–
REP. TURNER: Simply yesterday, there have been negotiations and- and actually, Iran had a chance simply yesterday to say to the world, we’re not going to pursue a nuclear weapon. Are you able to imagine–
(START CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: — However on the Strait of Hormuz which is the that’s inflicting your fuel costs in Dayton to go up–
REP. TURNER: — the biggest exporter of the terrorist– a terrorist regime–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — is what I am asking you.
REP. TURNER: — Having a nuclear weapon. They’ve been enriching- they’ve been enriching uranium. They have been enriching to the purpose the place the IAEA, the pinnacle of the IAEA, stated they had been weeks away from having sufficient to have a nuclear weapon.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There has not been a single congressional listening to on this problem. Nobody’s disagreeing it is an vital one. Since this battle began–
REP. TURNER: — There have a number of hearings —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — you could have been in session for 11 days, Congressman–
REP. TURNER: — there have been hearings on Iran’s nuclear ambitions for many years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you suppose that is satisfactory oversight of this battle?
(END CROSSTALK)
REP. TURNER: There have been this battle a long time of- nicely, really, we have now had categorised briefings on this problem. Now that is, that is an ongoing battle. There are going to be continued briefings. I believe the administration definitely might, and the Chairman of the Armed Companies Committee has chastised the division on needing to supply Congress with extra info, however we have had categorised briefings. However the problem that is the crux of this, that Iran can’t be permitted to have a nuclear weapon, which is what the Vice President stood earlier than the world and stated that Iran is unwilling to declare, simply yesterday, which was the breaking level of the negotiations, has been the topic of hearings.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you aware what the president means when he says that america Navy is now going to be blockading the Strait of Hormuz that we try to open? Has that been briefed to Congress?
REP. TURNER: I believe, well- after all not as a result of it was just- it was simply introduced, as you had been discussing this morning–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Nicely if it was a transparent technique all alongside and this was a part of the plan–
REP. TURNER: — What’s clear–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — you’d get–
REP. TURNER: — What is evident within the technique, because the President has stated, is the straits should not only a United States problem. It’s also a Europe problem. It’s a worldwide problem, and Iran shouldn’t be permitted–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– and the President stated as we speak we have now to reexamine NATO due to it–
REP. TURNER: — Iran shouldn’t be permitted to manage the straits. And it isn’t only a United States problem.
MARGARET BRENNAN:– Did they mine it?
REP. TURNER: And Iran should not be permitted to simply determine who will get by means of, and Europe, our NATO allies, others who’ve definitely an curiosity within the straits, must be coming to the desk. And it mustn’t simply be a U.S. problem. And the president, by saying we’re not simply gonna allow them to determine who will get by means of, is definitely calling all of our allies and everybody to the desk of this must be addressed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Did they mine the Strait of Hormuz? As a result of in that tweet as we speak, the president additionally stated they may not have. As a result of he said–
REP. TURNER: — No, I believe you will must ask the president. It is his tweet.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that is the purpose that Congress has not been–
REP. TURNER: — It is his tweet.–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — briefed on that. As a member, Oversight and Armed Companies. Do you are feeling like this has really been adequately defined to you? As a result of the American public doesn’t.
REP. TURNER: The president simply tweeted this this morning, so you will must ask the president.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We might like to ask the president or the secretary of state or the secretary of protection, however members of Congress from his get together are the one ones sitting right here as we speak, and we do admire you answering questions on it.
REP. TURNER: Thanks, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, we’ll be proper again.
