U.S. Rep. Kennedy questions U.S. alliances as Trump threatens NATO over Iran

U.S. Reps. Burgess Owens and Mike Kennedy of Utah criticized European allies on Thursday for not supporting President Donald Trump in the war against Iran.

Owens, Kennedy and U.S. Reps. Blake Moore of Utah said they had not watched Trump’s Wednesday speech on the topic but believed he had given a good justification for war.

“I agree with his vision,” Owens told the Deseret News. “What’s sad is that we don’t have our allies understanding the same threat.”

On Wednesday, Trump threatened to remove the United States from the NATO military defense alliance before delivering remarks where he defended his military aims.

The president reiterated his goal of destroying Iran’s missile and nuclear capacity, promised a rapid end to the conflict and called on countries to do more to protect oil supply.

The United Kingdom convened 40 countries on Thursday to demand that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a Persian Gulf oil route that has been violently shut down by Iran.

Last week, France, Italy and Spain reportedly denied airspace and air base access to U.S. aircraft. This has forced the U.S. to reconsider its alliances, Kennedy said.

“If they’re not going to help us in a time of need, why would we step up to help them in their time of need?” Kennedy told the Deseret News.

The use of air bases is a small request considering the amount of money, and lives, that America has spent over the decades to keep Europe safe, according to Kennedy.

The decision by some European nations to “thumb their nose at us” is a “sad sign” of the state of America’s relationship with allies across the Atlantic, Kennedy said.

European leaders appeared to dismiss Trump’s NATO threats on Wednesday, while Senate Democrats promised they would not approve a withdrawal under a law passed in 2023.

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During his broadcast, Trump touted the significant damage the U.S. had inflicted on Iran’s military apparatus and pledged to “bring them back to the Stone Ages.”

The war will likely extend for another two or three weeks, falling within his initial prediction of a four- to six-week campaign, and well short of previous U.S. wars, Trump pointed out.

“As of now,” Trump has given a sufficient explanation for the war, Moore told the Deseret News. “There’s always more that we need to be aware of, especially as it progresses.”

Trump has framed the war as an effort to end Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, destroy its ballistic missiles, stop state-sponsored terrorism and initiate regime change.

Utah’s retiring congressman, Owens, said America has been waiting 47 years since the Islamic Republic of Iran began in 1979 for a president to recognize the true threat of Iran.

“It’s a death cult and they want to destroy us and anything around them,” Owens said. “He wants to make sure that we’re safe we’re secure, and not only now but long term.”

A Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted last month found that 46% of Utah voters approve of U.S. military action in Iran, and 39% disapprove.

Utah Republicans were much more likely to support the war, with 74% strongly or somewhat approving, compared to 10% of Democrats and 30% of independent voters.

The war has begun to exact economic consequences on voters. The price of gas has risen by over a dollar, which Trump called a “short-term increase” on Wednesday.

Kennedy echoed Trump, saying, “America can supply its own oil and gas,” and European and Middle East allies need to “step up” because reopening oil routes “is in their interest.”

“I don’t want our young men and young women manning the Strait of Hormuz,” Kennedy said. “If we’re going to have any influence there, it should be through our allies.”

In a statement to the Deseret News, Rep. Celeste Maloy said she supports Trump’s actions in Iran because he has “articulated reachable goals” and a quick end to the war.

“A weakened Iran makes America and our partners safer, and I will support protecting our national security,” the statement said.