Transcript: Sen. Mark Kelly on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” May 10, 2026
The following is the transcript of the interview with Sen. Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on May 10, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Arizona. Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, who joins us this morning from Austin, Texas, Welcome again to Face The Nation.
SEN. MARK KELLY: Good to be on Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, CBS has reported that the price of the Iran struggle is no less than $50 billion I do know you might have been urgent the Pentagon on defining simply what number of of our munitions have been used up in the course of this battle to this point. You mentioned you have been nervous about how the US would maintain up in a battle with China due to all of this. Have you gotten a solution on how depleted our ammunition are?
SEN. KELLY: Yes, Margaret, we have now, we have been monitoring it quite a few occasions. We’ve been briefed by the Pentagon on particular munitions. Actually, it has been fairly detailed on Tomahawks, ATACMS, SM-3, THAAD rounds, Patriot rounds, so these interceptor rounds to defend ourselves. And the numbers are, I believe it is truthful to say it is stunning the how deep we have now gone into these magazines, as a result of this president received our nation into this with out a strategic objective, with out a plan, with out a timeline, and due to that, we have expended a number of ammunition, and which means the American persons are much less protected, whether or not it is a battle in the western Pacific with China or some place else in the world, the ammunition are depleted. You could have seen me ask the Secretary of Defense this query about how lengthy it’ll take to replenish. We’re speaking about years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you understand, Admiral Paparo, the head of US Pacific Command, was not too long ago requested in entrance of Congress about American readiness and whether or not the enjoyable to the Middle East was hurting it. He mentioned he didn’t see any actual price on our skill to find out China. From what you might have heard once you say it is stunning, do you suppose that the US would be capable of defend, for instance, Taiwan, if China tries to maneuver towards it? Or are you saying we aren’t able to try this proper now?
SEN. KELLY: Well, all of it relies upon on the size of a battle. You know, battle that lasts a matter of days or simply weeks, I believe we’re properly positioned to try this. If a battle goes on for months or years, when it takes years to replenish a few of these ammunition. Of course, we’ll be in a worse posture than we in any other case can be in if this struggle in Iran did not occur. And by the method, Margaret, what are the American folks getting out of this? This president mentioned he wasn’t going to begin any new wars. He was going to deliver down prices. He’s performed precisely the reverse. War towards Iran. Costs on the whole lot are up.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that is true. Of course I do know their argument that this was an inevitable battle in some methods. But on the subject of making America able to defend our allies and ourselves, does what you describe mainly make it not possible for a Democrat like your self to say no to that request from the White House for one and a half trillion {dollars} in protection spending?
SEN. KELLY: Well, to begin with, let me, let me simply again up a second. Things like this, nothing is inevitable. There are at all times different choices. During the Obama administration, the Iran deal, the JCPOA saved the enrichment at a decrease stage, Donald Trump tore that up. That’s the purpose we’re- we’re right here. But this was additionally not inevitable. There had been different issues that we may do. The $1.5 trillion request from this administration. It’s outrageous. When I received to the Senate 5 and a half years in the past, the protection funds was simply over $700 billion. Now, they’re asking for twice as a lot cash. It’s practically the quantity that the remainder of the world pays for its protection.
MARGARET BRENNAN: — So you are a proper? —
SEN. KELLY: — And as I identified in that- and I identified, as I identified in that listening to, there’s stuff in there, like the Golden Dome, the physics on that stuff is admittedly, actually laborious. I’m very assured we’ll spend some huge cash, and we’ll get a system- that is going to get a system that does not work. There are different issues in there we don’t want. I imply, they should submit a protection funds that is smart for the second we’re in.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, it sounds such as you’re saying no on that. Let me ask you about one thing that the administration launched late Friday, and that was sanctioning 4 entities for offering satellite tv for pc imagery to allow Iran’s army strikes towards US forces and allies. Three of these entities are primarily based in China. How in depth is China’s help for Iran and focusing on of American belongings?
SEN. KELLY: Well, after all, China’s supporting Iran. You know, so is Russia. I imply, they- they’re allies. They’re all adversaries of ours. So I’m not shocked.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Not shocked. Should there be a price for it past these sanctions?
SEN. KELLY: Well, I- properly, I believe, you understand, sanctions on whether or not it is on the Chinese for supporting Iran or the Russians, you understand, for his or her struggle towards our ally in Ukraine. You know, sanctions are a instrument we have now to attempt to get an impact from our adversaries. And this administration will not be utilizing the sanctions energy it has with regards to Russia. I imply, we’re attempting to get them to place extra sanctions on Russia, and this administration has been lifting sanctions on the Russians.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There is- you talked about Russia, there may be this three day stop hearth in the Ukraine struggle to permit prisoner exchanges and this parade that Vladimir Putin holds yearly. He mentioned yesterday, the Ukraine battle could also be, quote, coming to an finish, however it’s nonetheless a critical matter. We know the American diplomacy has did not date. How do you interpret what Putin mentioned there?
SEN. KELLY: Well, I believe it is a optimistic, you understand, assertion, we would like this to finish. Nobody needs this to finish greater than the Ukrainian folks, I’m going to be touring again to Ukraine right here in about three weeks or so to fulfill with authorities officers, to get firsthand what the standing of the battle is, to listen to from the Ukrainian folks. We need this to finish. They need it to finish. I believe one among the obstacles to peace is that Donald Trump has not offered the help to the Ukrainian authorities, the Ukrainian folks, that Ukraine wants as an alternative. You know, he usually. I imply, we have seen this again and again, how he is received this odd relationship with Putin. He refuses to press Putin, in a method. He’s backed off on sanctions. He’s not put the strain on the Russian authorities with the instruments that we truly should get an end result and get this thing- this battle, to finish.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we’ll see if that place modifications since the diplomacy Secretary Rubio says has not progressed. I wish to ask you about your personal case right here. You had been in court docket this previous week. You are suing Defense Secretary Hegseth on the grounds that he violated your free speech rights. The Justice Department is arguing the video you made was calling on lively responsibility service members to reject authorized orders. I do know you say it was simply to withstand unlawful orders. You mentioned it’ll go to the Supreme Court. Why do you suppose that is the place that is headed?
SEN. KELLY: Well, Margaret, I truly do not know, you understand, how this factor ends. I imply, the Supreme Court may take it up. Maybe they resolve to not. I do know this, that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump are inclined to double down on unhealthy concepts. You know, that is why, you understand, I mentioned that. But you understand, the backside line on this factor is, this is not about me, you understand, I mentioned one thing. It was very clear what we mentioned, you understand, don’t obey unlawful orders. They’re saying I one thing mentioned else, that does not make any sense. What they mentioned in court docket simply the different day, on Thursday is that if retired service members like me and the different 2 million retired service members on the market need to have the ability to train their First Amendment rights, they may give up their retirement, so hand over their pension, hand over their healthcare, hand over that retired standing. Think about that for a second. The individuals who have given the most to this nation, this administration needs them to surrender their constitutional rights.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well one among the judges mentioned that you’re totally different as a result of you might have a bully pulpit, since you’re a senator, that you simply’re not the identical as each different veteran.
SEN. KELLY: Well, I imply, my job is to carry this administration accountable. I’m on the Armed Services Committee. That’s like, particularly that a part of the structure is a separation of powers, Margaret. My function as a United States senator on that committee is to talk out about these points, and I mentioned one thing that they did not like. But once more, this is not about me. They’re attempting to close folks up, however on this case, they picked the unsuitable man. I’m not going to allow them to violate my constitutional rights or the constitutional rights of two million retired service members. I had- by the method, I had service members, retired service members, there with me in the courtroom, as a result of they perceive what’s at stake right here. I imply, if the authorities was to win this, if Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump received their method. I imply, they mentioned I must be hung, executed, after which they tried to prosecute us and throw us in jail. And now what they’re doing-
MARGARET BRENNAN: –you referencing tweets–
SEN. KELLY: –yeah precisely and now they’re attempting to remove these rights, not solely from me, however they mentioned in court docket, 2 million retired service members may give up their rights.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Kelly, we’ll watch what occurs subsequent in that case. Thank you on your time this morning, ‘Face the Nation’ can be proper again. Stay with us.
Claire Moberg CBS News, “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” 740-707-1277
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