Rand Paul Laughs at Fox Host Asking If Trump Iran Strikes Are a ‘Win’: ‘The Bushes Are Happy!’

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) cast doubt on the success of President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran, arguing the bombing could simply “hasten the development” of nuclear weapons in the country.

Paul joined Stuart Varney on Fox Business’ Varney & Co. ahead of Trump’s press conference from the NATO summit in the Netherland on Wednesday.

The president lashed out at media outlets like CNN over reports on a leaked intelligence assessment claiming strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites only set the country back by a few months at most. Trump claimed on Wednesday that Iran’s nuclear sites were obliterated and their nuclear ambitions were set back by years. He has called reports downplaying the success of the mission “fake news.”

Paul cited the leaks and reports while arguing that Trump’s bombing could end in the potential peace he’s touting, or it could end in the country hastening their nuclear ambitions in retaliation.

“The president… dismisses this leak completely and he’s really pounding on CNN for leaking it and he is saying, ‘look, we got it all, totally destroyed it.’ That’s what he’s saying. And he’s got a team working on that right now. You don’t accept the president on this?” Varney asked Paul.

“I don’t know what to accept. I have heard the leaks. I’ve also heard the press secretary say that top secret things shouldn’t be released, implying that there was actually a report saying this. But the analysts are guests as well. So, they’re intelligent people, but they’re making guesses on satellite photos, I would think, primarily. Maybe they also have informants. I don’t know. But, really, probably no one’s been down there yet,” Paul argued.

Paul added that either Iran is “chastened and gives up, or they’re going to hasten their development of a bomb.” The senator said he is not in favor of Iran having a nuclear bomb, but he also does not approve of Trump’s surprise strikes.

Varney noted that Trump has gotten a “warm” reception at NATO and asked Paul whether he can chalk Iran up as a “win” for the president.

“Do you think, now the president’s at the NATO meeting in Europe, he’s got a very warm reception. Can you call this a win for the president?” he asked.

“Well, you know, the Bushes are happy,” Paul said after a quick laugh. “Mike Pence is happy, Bill Kristol is happy. All of his critics that think he’s not bellicose enough are just loving it and clapping.”

Trump’s response to escalating fighting between Iran and Israel has led to a split among MAGA-friendly figures like Tucker Carlson and Mark Levin, with pundits like the former arguing for diplomacy and fearing a new war while Levin and others are arguing for a far more aggressive approach to Iran.

Paul argued that neocons are loving Trump’s recent actions and likely “secretly” hoping he eventually supports the deployment of ground troops, kicking off a new Middle East war for the United States. The senator added, however, that he trusts Trump’s “instincts” are to avoid a full-blown war.

“Many of them, I think, secretly hope that we will send troops into the Middle East and be more mired in another prolonged war,” he said. “I do think, though, that the president’s instincts are counter to people like Bill Kristol and Levin. So, I think that the president actually will try to keep us out of war.”

Watch above via Fox Business.