Sunflower State News

On the occasion of the United States Army’s 250th birthday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) appeared on Fox and Friends to discuss several issues including the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, his support for the military, and his family’s history of service.

Speaking from the site of the Army’s 250th Birthday Parade, Marshall highlighted the situation in the Middle East. “Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East – we need to stand beside them. At the same time, I want all the listeners to understand that the Iranian regime was just a week away from having nuclear warheads. President Trump gave them a 60-day warning. On day 61, Israel took things into their own hands. We pray for peace, we pray for the Iranian people, but we cannot tolerate a terrorist group having a nuclear warhead,” he said.

Marshall also reflected on America’s approach to international conflict. “Being from Kansas, I’m a big Eisenhower fan, and President Eisenhower said, ‘I hate war as only a soldier who’s lived it can, with all its brutality and futility.’ Joey, you’ve seen what that war is like as well. I think when you’ve served, you hate war more than anybody else. I want to project peace through strength, that was another President Eisenhower saying as well, so let’s project peace through strength. Pray for peace every day, and I’m just so grateful for all the military people willing to fight for our freedoms to keep the peace, but make us safe as well. And a big shout-out to all those soldiers in harm’s way right now in the Middle East.”

Addressing planned counterprotests around June 14—also Flag Day—Marshall noted his perspective on demonstrations: “Certainly, their obsession has become psychosis. I would just come and invite some of the people to meet some of the people that I had the privilege of giving a Capitol tour to last night. Soldiers from the Big Red One, the First Infantry Division – this division had 12,000 people who made the ultimate sacrifice, 12,000 people from one division. 1.3 million people from the army have made the ultimate sacrifice, another 1.5 million people injured in war, so just come and tell them thanks for that right to get out here and protest. God bless all of them, God bless President Trump. Let’s celebrate the Army’s birthday today.”

Marshall expressed strong feelings regarding flag burning: “I’m all for it. Unfortunately, I grew up during the Vietnam era, and that’s when the flag burning started. Again, my dad served, my brother served, someone from every generation of my family since the Civil War, and to see them burn the flag, it’s just a kick in the gut to all of us who served.”

The interview also touched upon Marshall's personal connection with military service through multiple generations of his family.