Fox’s Brian Kilmeade Says Trump Admitted to Him the Iran War Is ‘Not That Popular’
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade said President Donald Trump admitted to him that the Iran war is “not that popular” with the American public.
He shared the news during a Monday interview on Kennedy’s podcast. Kilmeade told his Fox News colleague he spoke to Trump the night before because he wanted to get clarity on the military’s weapons stockpile.
“He said, ‘I realize the war is not that popular. I also realize it’s necessary,'” Kilmeade said Trump told him.
A Fox News survey last week found 56% of Americans do not support military action in Iran.
Kilmeade said he reached out to Trump after The New York Times reported on July 25 that Trump had halted plans to ramp up the war because of stockpile anxiety.
“President Trump has set aside, at least for now, plans to sharply escalate the American military assault against Iran, with particular concern that intensifying the war could dangerously drain the Pentagon’s already diminished stockpile of Patriot antimissile interceptors and other air defense munitions in the Middle East,” reporters Jonathan Swan and Eric Schmitt wrote.
Kilmeade said the report followed insiders telling him more weapons had been used than the administration was letting on. But he said Trump told him the NYT report was totally bogus, once they got on the phone.
Trump said the report was “not true” and had “nothing to do” with him pausing strikes on Iran, Kilmeade said.
“We’re fine” on weapons, Kilmeade said Trump told him. The president also said the other Persian Gulf countries were “not thrilled with a major attack right now,” but he felt it was still important to consider.
“I was shocked,” Kilmeade added. “Basically his word was, surprised at the amount of progress made in the Oman talks.”
Kilmeade’s interview coincided with Axios reporting Trump was willing to resume “very strong military action,” if the latest deal talks fell apart. Trump later bashed ex-President Joe Biden, saying he “gave away” too many weapons to Ukraine during his time in office.
Watch above.
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