Missouri Lawmakers speak on U.S. tensions with Iran
Olivia Hayes
COLUMBIA, Mo, (KMIZ)
After the United States made its move overnight in the Israel-Iran conflict, Missouri Lawmakers are reacting.
President Donald Trump announced in an address to the nation Saturday night that U.S. B-2 stealth bombers successfully destroyed Iran’s three nuclear enrichment sites: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.
“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” Trump said.
U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) shared his support of the strike dubbed ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ in a post on X shortly after the President’s address calling Trump a “foreign policy realist.”
“He has taken limited military action to achieve a crucial objective that is in the core national interest of the United States: preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons,” the post reads.
President Trump is a foreign policy realist not an ideologue. He has taken limited military action to achieve a crucial objective that is in the core national interest of the United States: preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
He doesn’t want another Forever War. He…
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) June 22, 2025
In an interview with ABC 17 News following the President’s announcement of the attack, U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) said that this attack was needed to put a stop to the Ayatollah Regime’s terror.
“They are intent on developing nuclear weapons. They believe that Israel is the little Satan in the United States of America is a greatER Satan, and so would not stop with Israel, I think they would come after us next,” Alford said.
According to the Associated Press, the B-2 stealth bombers that dropped the bunker buster bombs made their return to the Whiteman Air Force Base in Johnson County, Missouri on Sunday. U.S. officials say about a dozen B-2 bombers deployed from the base early Saturday morning, half of them heading west toward guam as a decoy group. Seven more stealth bombers deployed not long after heading eat directly towards Iran.
U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO) praised the skill and bravery of the Missouri airmen, in a social media post on X, but shared his criticisms towards the President’s decisions.
“Launching airstrikes without consulting Congress, without a clear strategy, and without providing transparency to the American people is not an acceptable path forward,” the post read.
I’m grateful that no American service members were harmed in this strike, and proud of the skill and bravery of the Missouri-based airmen and airwomen who carried out their mission. Our troops always deserve our respect, no matter who is president.
I never for a second doubted… pic.twitter.com/YQZ2c4VrNE
— Congressman Wesley Bell (@RepWesleyBellMO) June 22, 2025
State Rep. David Tyson-Smith (MO-D) also showed his support for the airmen that completed the attack in a statement shared with ABC 17 News:
“Although I am not a proponent of starting a war with Iran and the global ramifications that could unleash, I support our brave airmen of Whiteman AFB and am grateful they are safe after completing their mission,” Tyson-Smith said.
President Trump also issued a warning to Iranian leaders in his Saturday night address.
“Iran the bully of the middle east must now make peace. If they do not future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier,” Trump said.
Iran has denied any significant damage done, and the Islamic Republic pledged to retaliate, according to the Associated Press.
The U.S. Department of State issued a worldwide security alert on Sunday. The alert cautioned Americans overseas or planning to travel overseas of possible targeting.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe also issued an alert to all Missourians asking to report suspicious activity to local law enforcement authorities amid rising tensions.
Gov. Kehoe said in a social media post, the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) has already notified every law enforcement agency in the state of this heightened sense of awareness as well as all state trained Terrorism Liaison Officers. Besides local law enforcement the governor is asking Missourians to also report suspicious activity and threats of violence, including online threats, to FBI Field Offices, or the Missouri Fusion Center – MIAC.