Transcript: Rep. Mike Turner on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” April 12, 2026
The following is the transcript of the interview with GOP Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on April 12, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We're back now with Republican Congressman Mike Turner. Thank you for coming back from town so early to talk to us in person.
REP. MIKE TURNER: Thank you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let's start with our election, because you, like many people right now, are running for re-election.
REP. MJICHI: That's right
MARGARET BRENNAN: You look at these polls, 64% of Americans don't like war. 62% say that the President does not have a clear plan. There are negative opinions about the president's handling of the economy and inflation. Dayton is not immune. Gasoline prices have risen sharply from where they were at the same time last year. How do you explain to the people of your region that this war is worth it?
REP. TURNER: Well, first of all, none of the arguments ever voted well. I mean, when there's a conflict, nobody says it's handled well, because you have to go through it. The president has pointed out, I think very well, that this is about making sure that Iran does not become a nuclear state. And no one is willing to trade low gas prices for Iran to become a nuclear state. And when Vice President Vance stood at the podium and said that the negotiations were over because Iran was not willing to declare that it would not become a nuclear state. That should have sent chills, across Europe and around the world. And I think you know everybody, because that's really what this is about. That–that puts aside what you know, what Senator Warner was trying to dismiss, that this was not an imminent threat, and what everybody in Europe and around the world was saying–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Well, the president says his wish.
REP. TURNER: But that – that – that this is fast, the IAEA, director Grossi, had said that they were weeks away from having enough material to have a nuclear bomb–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — He said there was no evidence that they were pursuing a nuclear weapon, he couldn't get it out.
REP. TURNER: –he said- it was weeks- it was still weeks. And–and now you have it. People will no longer be able to say that they were not ambitious. Here they are at the table. It's been this– this big conflict, and they're not willing to say they're not going to pursue–
(CROSSTALK BEGINS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes, and the American people in our voting–
REP TURNER: –not willing to pursue a nuclear weapon–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –to protect that. However, the negotiation itself is proof of the fact that militarily, you cannot achieve the destruction of the nuclear ambition. Isn't that right?
REP. MJIKELI: No, it's not, because it's still going on, and – and the President –
MARGARET BRENNAN: — What's going on?
REP TURNER: That this- this- this conflict, this- this action, negotiations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The president said the war was won.
REP. TURNER: This is not over yet. And since it's not over, Iran will have to come to terms with the — recalling the JCPOA, the first enrichment agreement that Obama negotiated, where he said, we're not going to let them have a nuclear weapon, but we're just going to watch —
MARGARET BRENNAN: And they didn't have a nuclear weapon. And they don't have a nuclear weapon now.
REP. TURNER: –and we'll watch- and we'll watch them enrich themselves until they get close enough, and then we take military action. Europe – everyone was part of this deal. This is not just–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — But the president says they still won't agree not to get a nuclear weapon and he won't stop them–
REP. TURNER: –this is not just a United States issue, as we have seen during this conflict when Iran with its missile technology sent a missile all the way to Diego Garcia. This was the awakening of Europe. They now have missile technology that can reach Europe. This is a regime, a terrorist regime, that we cannot allow to have a nuclear weapon
(CROSSTALK ENDS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: So you said the president is very clear here on his goals and his purpose. Our polls show that Americans are not persuaded in the same way as you. Let me examine some of the things he said on the Strait of Hormuz. At the beginning of the war on March 3, he said that the Navy will start escorting the tanks no matter what, the US will ensure the free flow of energy to the world. On March 9, he said he was still thinking about taking it. On March 15, he said it's someone else's problem. Our assistants would take care of it. Maybe we shouldn't even be there. We don't need it. We have a lot of fat. Six days later, he threatened on the Internet, the US will attack Iran's energy plants if it does not open the strait within 48 hours. On March 26 he went back to criticizing his allies, saying he was disappointed with NATO–
REP. TURNER: -Margaret, in conflict- there's–
MARGARET BRENNAN: He then announced a two-week ceasefire saying Iran had agreed to open the strait–
REP. TURNER: — the argument is —
MARGARET BRENNAN: –I'm not done yet. Because yesterday you said–
REP TURNER: –the conflict will be fluid.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –that CENTCOM has announced that it will send two ships to set conditions for demining. This morning, he said the Navy would begin interdiction of small and medium-sized vessels. Is that the final answer? I mean, do you see here why the public doesn't think the president has a clear plan?
REP. JICHI: Your enemy- your enemy has a vote on this as well, and he has a position on it and there were just discussions yesterday–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Choose a position? They change within days–
REP. TURNER: Just yesterday, there were talks and — and actually, Iran had an opportunity just yesterday to say to the world, we will not pursue a nuclear weapon. Can you imagine–
(START CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: — But it's the Strait of Hormuz that's causing your gas prices in Dayton to go up —
REP. TURNER: — the largest producer of terrorists– the terrorist state–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — that's what I'm asking.
REP. TURNER: — Having a nuclear weapon. They were enriching- they were enriching uranium. They were getting rich until the IAEA, the head of the IAEA, said it was weeks before they had enough to have a nuclear weapon.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There hasn't been a single congressional hearing on this issue. No one disputes it is important. Since this war began–
REP. TURNER: — There's a lot of hearing —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — you've been in session for 11 days, Congressman–
REP. TURNER: — there have been hearings on Iran's nuclear ambitions for decades.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you think this is an adequate oversight of this war?
(END CROSSTALK)
REP. TURNER: This battle has been going on for decades, actually, and we've had split opinions on this issue. Now this, this is an ongoing conflict. The forums will continue. I think the administration certainly can, and the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee has accused the department of needing to provide more information to Congress, but we've had mixed reviews. But the core issue of this, is that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, which is what the Vice President put in front of the world and said that Iran is not willing to announce it, just yesterday, which was the breaking point of the negotiations, it was a matter of hearing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you know what the president means when he says that the United States Navy is now going to block the Strait of Hormuz that we are trying to open? Has that been reported to Congress?
REP. TURNER: I think, not because it was just announced, as you were talking this morning–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — If it was a clear plan all along and this was part of the plan–
REP. TURNER: — What is clear–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — you'll get–
REP. TURNER: — What is clear in this strategy, as the President said, is that the crisis is not just an issue for the United States. It is also a European story. It is a global issue, and Iran should not be allowed to–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– and the President said today that we should reevaluate NATO because of–
REP. TURNER: — Iran should not be allowed to control the issues. And it's not just a United States story.
MARGARET BRENNAN:– What are they?
REP. TURNER: And Iran should not be allowed to just decide who goes through, and Europe, our NATO partners, others who certainly have an interest in these issues, should come to the table. And it shouldn't just be a US issue. And the president, by saying that we're not going to just let them decide who's going to win, he's definitely calling all of our partners and everyone at the table for this to be talked about.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are they mining the Strait of Hormuz? Because in that tweet today, the president also said they might not have it. Because he said–
REP. TURNER: — No, I think you'd have to ask the president. His tweet.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But that's the point that Congress hasn't been–
REP. TURNER: — It's his tweet.–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — told about that. As a Member, Oversight and Armed Services. Do you feel like this has been explained enough for you? Because American society doesn't.
REP. TURNER: The president just tweeted this morning, so you'll have to ask the president.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We would like to ask the president or the secretary of State or the secretary of Defense, but the members of Congress of his party are the ones sitting here today, and we appreciate taking questions about it.
REP. TURNER: Thank you, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, we'll be right back.
