¶ Mast Backed Trump’s Costly War With Iran That Raised Prices On Floridians
¶ Mast defended trump’s war
¶ Mast Has Continued To Praise Trump’s Handling Of The War In Iran
9/21/26: Mast Claimed That Iran No Longer Held The Strait Of Hormuz And Bragged That “In The Last Two Months, President Trump Has Moved 2,000 Ships Through The Strait Of Hormuz, A Billion Barrels Of Oil.” According to Rep. Brian Mast on Fox News: America’s Newsroom, “MAST: The IRGC, they will probably fight until they have nothing left but stones to throw. That being said, the Iranian people have to be the ones that say this can't be our future. He made another comment saying the world is less safe. There's nothing truthful about the world being less safe. President Trump very literally destroyed their nuclear stockpile, their navy, their air force, every capability that they have. The only card that they held was the Strait of Hormuz. And they don't even hold that anymore. In the last two months, President Trump has moved 2,000 ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a billion barrels of oil. Iran has literally moved nothing off of their shores because they do not control their shores or their sky. That is a safer world. I would make one other quick point on this, because remember, everybody is at the United Nations this week. They're supposed to be all about peace, global peace. What President Trump needs to make clear there is that it's the United States of America that's defeating Iran.” [Fox News: America’s Newsroom, 9/21/26] (video)
- BBC Reported That Prior To The War In Iran, An Average Of 138 Ships Crossed Through The Strait Of Hormuz Per Day, Which Calculates To Roughly 4,200 Ships Per Month. According to BBC, "At least 172 vessels have crossed through the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Iran signed a deal aimed at ending the war, including 42 ships on Saturday alone, according to new data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler. The number of vessels making the transit from 18 June, the day after the deal was signed, is still well below the pre-conflict average of some 138 crossings each day. Ship-tracking data analysed by BBC Verify shows more than 200 tankers appear to be waiting inside the strait on Tuesday, with at least 10 ships moving west into the Gulf so far. " [BBC, 6/23/26]
9/18/26: Mast Claimed “I Hate High Gas Prices As Much As Anybody” But Said His Only Response Was That “There Is A Reason Of What Is Going On In Iran.” According to Rep. Brian Mast on the Brian Mudd Show, “MAST: You know, to switch to some of these other big election issues, fuel prices are a big issue. You know, we did great work, I think entirely partisan me on the Republican side, cutting everybody's taxes, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security, all of these lower rates in every single tax bracket, that's a big deal. But people see the fuel pump each and every week. I hate high gas prices as much as anybody. And the only thing I can tell people about that is that there is a reason of what is going on in Iran. And it's not, you know, something that is just over the last six months or just over the last 30 plus years. It's all points in between. I could take any window of time before this operation began in Iran. And I can show you where, you know, the source material, literally where Iran was hitting us week in, week out, ships going in and out of the Strait of Hormuz like they are right now. They were constantly either flying drones at them or firing ballistic missiles at them or driving boats into them or boarding them at gunpoint or doing everything that they could to harass them, this was ongoing. You know, what was going on with Iran is we've lost American service members over there in this conflict. 18 of them, none of them were lost in Iran. And I reflect on this a little bit. I'm, you know, thinking about my alive day. I was killed in Afghanistan in a ground war. Everybody that has been killed in this conflict was Iran targeting locations as they've been doing constantly well outside of Iran, hitting a base that we have in Jordan or hitting the base that we have in Iraq or a base that we have in Syria or a base that we have in Bahrain. That's what they've been doing in perpetuity for decades in the last 30 months before this operation ever began. They attacked us over 350 times in 30 months. And the way that you tie that to a nuclear weapon, which they have been working diligently to get, is they have used every weapon they have against us. If they have a nuclear weapon, at worst, they hold the entire Middle East hostage in the way they never have been able to before. Or rather, at best, they hold the entire Middle East hostage. And at worst, they actually use that nuclear weapon, which, again, they've been trying to use every weapon they have against us constantly, not in their borders, but constantly outside of their borders. And that's the fight that's being had right now. President Trump is a no new war president. This is not a new war. This is a war that has been waged against us endlessly. And this is the only way that it comes to an end.” [Brian Mudd Show, 9/18/26] (audio)
9/18/26: Mast Claimed That Trump Was A “No New War President” Because The War In Iran “Has Been Waged Against Us Endlessly” And Said “This Is The Only Way That It Comes To An End.” According to Rep. Brian Mast on the Brian Mudd Show, “MAST: You know, to switch to some of these other big election issues, fuel prices are a big issue. You know, we did great work, I think entirely partisan me on the Republican side, cutting everybody's taxes, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security, all of these lower rates in every single tax bracket, that's a big deal. But people see the fuel pump each and every week. I hate high gas prices as much as anybody. And the only thing I can tell people about that is that there is a reason of what is going on in Iran. And it's not, you know, something that is just over the last six months or just over the last 30 plus years. It's all points in between. I could take any window of time before this operation began in Iran. And I can show you where, you know, the source material, literally where Iran was hitting us week in, week out, ships going in and out of the Strait of Hormuz like they are right now. They were constantly either flying drones at them or firing ballistic missiles at them or driving boats into them or boarding them at gunpoint or doing everything that they could to harass them, this was ongoing. You know, what was going on with Iran is we've lost American service members over there in this conflict. 18 of them, none of them were lost in Iran. And I reflect on this a little bit. I'm, you know, thinking about my alive day. I was killed in Afghanistan in a ground war. Everybody that has been killed in this conflict was Iran targeting locations as they've been doing constantly well outside of Iran, hitting a base that we have in Jordan or hitting the base that we have in Iraq or a base that we have in Syria or a base that we have in Bahrain. That's what they've been doing in perpetuity for decades in the last 30 months before this operation ever began. They attacked us over 350 times in 30 months. And the way that you tie that to a nuclear weapon, which they have been working diligently to get, is they have used every weapon they have against us. If they have a nuclear weapon, at worst, they hold the entire Middle East hostage in the way they never have been able to before. Or rather, at best, they hold the entire Middle East hostage. And at worst, they actually use that nuclear weapon, which, again, they've been trying to use every weapon they have against us constantly, not in their borders, but constantly outside of their borders. And that's the fight that's being had right now. President Trump is a no new war president. This is not a new war. This is a war that has been waged against us endlessly. And this is the only way that it comes to an end.” [Brian Mudd Show, 9/18/26] (audio)
9/10/26: Mast Said The Iran War Should Carry A “Positive Impact For Republicans” In The Midterms Because This Was “The First Time That The United States Of America Said Enough Is Enough.” According to Rep. Brian Mast on the Iran War, “HOST: Last question, do you feel that this war being so unpopular here in the U.S. might carry any impact on the midterms? MAST: If anything, this should carry a positive impact for Republicans. Why? Because this is a forever war that Iran has been waging against the United States of America. This is the first time that the United States of America said enough is enough. We're not going to be attacked by Iran any longer. I can give you a window of 30 months before Operation Epic Fury ever began. The United States and our allies were attacked over 350 times in that 30 months before Epic Fury started, them driving small boats into our Navy ships, small boats into merchant ships, firing ballistic missiles at our place in Jordan called Tower 22, where they killed three American service members. Sergeant Rivers Sergeant Sanders, Sergeant Moffitt, obviously, since Epic Fury began targeting Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, everybody that they can, Jordan, Israel, targeting everybody, this comes to an end, the forever war that Iran has been major and they're not going to be an enemy that's allowed to advance into having a nuclear weapon, because obviously when they get a nuclear weapon, it's not like the ayatollah is going to all of a sudden become some nice guy.” [Brian Mast On The Iran War, 9/10/26] (video)
9/10/26: Mast Agreed With A Host Who Said He Had Been Arguing That The U.S. Had “Won” The War With Iran. According to Rep. Brian Mast on the Scott Jennings Show, "HOST: I've been arguing that we've won this war. They have no Navy. They have no military to speak of. Their economy is in freefall. The Strait of Hormuz, as a piece of leverage will be irrelevant within the next two years. Is that how you see it? MAST: I see it like that." [Scott Jennings Show, 9/10/26] (video)
9/10/26: Mast Said Trump Was “Ending A Forever War Against The United States Of America” Waged By Iran. According to Rep. Brian Mast on Fox News: America Reports, “MAST: On the Iran war. We come from a place on the Republican side saying, you know what, enough is enough. We're not going to be attacked for the next 50 years like we've been attacked for the last 50 years. We're going to deal with this once and for all. They're either going to commit to not attacking us or they're not going to have the capability. We bring this to an end. That's what President Trump is doing, is ending a forever war against the United States of America. He didn't start this. He's bringing it to an end.” [Fox News: America Reports, 9/10/26] (video)
8/24/26: Mast Said The War In Iran Was “Absolutely A Forever War” And Claimed This Was The “First Time That The United States Has Decided To Respond To It And Say Enough Is Enough.” According to Rep. Brian Mast at a tele-town hall, “MAST: If you take the beginning of Operation Epic Fury early, early this spring, let's say around the February window, and you say, okay, let's go back 30 months before that. Right. Let's just go back less than three years before this conflict ever began, in that 30 months before this conflict began. Iran attacked us over 350 times. They would drive small boats into our Navy ships. They would drive small boats into merchant ships that were just delivering goods or taking oil out of the Strait of Hormuz. They would fly drones and ballistic missiles into both of those things. In that 30 month window, they killed three U.S. service members, Sergeant Rivers, Sergeant Sanders, Sergeant Moffitt, when they fired a ballistic missile at a place called Tower 22, at an outpost base that we had in Jordan. This is something that they killed countless contractors as well. This was ongoing. This is absolutely a forever war. What you see going on is the first time that the United States has decided to respond to it and say enough is enough. The exit strategy is, get them to the point that they are no longer going to attack us, our merchant ships, our Navy ships, our bases in other sovereign countries like Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, any other place throughout that region that they can either not do it or they changed their mind about doing it. And that is what we are doing. There is not an exit until their commitment to attack us comes to an end. And one of the things that I didn't mention that we did destroy as well, and you think about fuel prices. Fuel prices matter to me, I don't know anybody that they don't matter to. I said it to some people this past weekend. I don't like that I had to pay $3.70 a gallon the other day for fuel. I wish I was paying $2.70 or $1.70 or $0.70. I don't like having to pay that. But it will be far more expensive if Iran has a nuclear weapon and nobody should roll their eyes about Iran having a nuclear weapon. Three of the places that we destroyed were Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo. Those were their nuclear research and nuclear development facilities. And if you say, okay, what makes us think that they would use it? Iran again, used every bit of means that they had over the last 30 months before we were ever engaged in a conflict with them to attack us with everything that they can. If they hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage with a nuclear weapon, fuel will be far more expensive.” [Tele-Town Hall - Rep. Brian Mast, 8/24/26] (audio)
Mast On The War In Iran: “There Is Not An Exit Until Their Commitment To Attack Us Comes To An End.” According to Rep. Brian Mast at a tele-town hall, “MAST: If you take the beginning of Operation Epic Fury early, early this spring, let's say around the February window, and you say, okay, let's go back 30 months before that. Right. Let's just go back less than three years before this conflict ever began, in that 30 months before this conflict began. Iran attacked us over 350 times. They would drive small boats into our Navy ships. They would drive small boats into merchant ships that were just delivering goods or taking oil out of the Strait of Hormuz. They would fly drones and ballistic missiles into both of those things. In that 30 month window, they killed three U.S. service members, Sergeant Rivers, Sergeant Sanders, Sergeant Moffitt, when they fired a ballistic missile at a place called Tower 22, at an outpost base that we had in Jordan. This is something that they killed countless contractors as well. This was ongoing. This is absolutely a forever war. What you see going on is the first time that the United States has decided to respond to it and say enough is enough. The exit strategy is, get them to the point that they are no longer going to attack us, our merchant ships, our Navy ships, our bases in other sovereign countries like Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, any other place throughout that region that they can either not do it or they changed their mind about doing it. And that is what we are doing. There is not an exit until their commitment to attack us comes to an end. And one of the things that I didn't mention that we did destroy as well, and you think about fuel prices. Fuel prices matter to me, I don't know anybody that they don't matter to. I said it to some people this past weekend. I don't like that I had to pay $3.70 a gallon the other day for fuel. I wish I was paying $2.70 or $1.70 or $0.70. I don't like having to pay that. But it will be far more expensive if Iran has a nuclear weapon and nobody should roll their eyes about Iran having a nuclear weapon. Three of the places that we destroyed were Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo. Those were their nuclear research and nuclear development facilities. And if you say, okay, what makes us think that they would use it? Iran again, used every bit of means that they had over the last 30 months before we were ever engaged in a conflict with them to attack us with everything that they can. If they hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage with a nuclear weapon, fuel will be far more expensive.” [Tele-Town Hall - Rep. Brian Mast, 8/24/26] (audio)
8/24/26: Mast Said “I Don't Like That I Had To Pay $3.70 A Gallon The Other Day For Fuel” But Claimed If Iran Could “Hold The Strait Of Hormuz Hostage With A Nuclear Weapon, Fuel Will Be Far More Expensive.” According to Rep. Brian Mast at a tele-town hall, “MAST: If you take the beginning of Operation Epic Fury early, early this spring, let's say around the February window, and you say, okay, let's go back 30 months before that. Right. Let's just go back less than three years before this conflict ever began, in that 30 months before this conflict began. Iran attacked us over 350 times. They would drive small boats into our Navy ships. They would drive small boats into merchant ships that were just delivering goods or taking oil out of the Strait of Hormuz. They would fly drones and ballistic missiles into both of those things. In that 30 month window, they killed three U.S. service members, Sergeant Rivers, Sergeant Sanders, Sergeant Moffitt, when they fired a ballistic missile at a place called Tower 22, at an outpost base that we had in Jordan. This is something that they killed countless contractors as well. This was ongoing. This is absolutely a forever war. What you see going on is the first time that the United States has decided to respond to it and say enough is enough. The exit strategy is, get them to the point that they are no longer going to attack us, our merchant ships, our Navy ships, our bases in other sovereign countries like Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, any other place throughout that region that they can either not do it or they changed their mind about doing it. And that is what we are doing. There is not an exit until their commitment to attack us comes to an end. And one of the things that I didn't mention that we did destroy as well, and you think about fuel prices. Fuel prices matter to me, I don't know anybody that they don't matter to. I said it to some people this past weekend. I don't like that I had to pay $3.70 a gallon the other day for fuel. I wish I was paying $2.70 or $1.70 or $0.70. I don't like having to pay that. But it will be far more expensive if Iran has a nuclear weapon and nobody should roll their eyes about Iran having a nuclear weapon. Three of the places that we destroyed were Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo. Those were their nuclear research and nuclear development facilities. And if you say, okay, what makes us think that they would use it? Iran again, used every bit of means that they had over the last 30 months before we were ever engaged in a conflict with them to attack us with everything that they can. If they hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage with a nuclear weapon, fuel will be far more expensive.” [Tele-Town Hall - Rep. Brian Mast, 8/24/26] (audio)
8/21/26: Mast Claimed To “Hate” High Gas Prices But Told Constituents “If You Think Gas Prices Are Expensive Right Now, Wait Til Iran Has A Nuclear Weapon And They're Holding The Straits Of Hormuz Hostage.” According to Rep. Brian Mast on CBS12 News, “HOST: What are we looking at when it comes to Iran and a lot of people opposed to a prolonged war? What's happening on that front? When can we see gas prices go down? MAST: Let's talk about both the prolonged war and gas prices. Right. Prolonged war number one, this is not a new war. This is a forever war that we have been in. I can give you — you could ask me any window of time to talk about attacks. I'll give you 30 months before Epic Fury, what we see going on right now, ever began. In the 30 months before it ever began, Iran attacked us over 350 times. They killed three Americans. Sergeant Moffitt, Sergeant Sanders, Sergeant Rivers, when they fired a ballistic missile, like they're doing, into a place called Tower 22 in Jordan. They've been attacking us every opportunity that they get. They drive small boats into our Navy ships. They drive small boats into our merchant ships that carry oil. They fly drones at them. They fire missiles at them. And that's the same entity, this crazy terrorist country that is constantly attacking us, that is trying to get a nuclear weapon so that they can hold the whole world hostage with that. This is a war — this is just the first time the United States of America has said enough is enough. We're not going to be attacked any longer. We're not going to have our people killed and kidnapped. You're not going to attack us in all these ways. It comes to an end. That's what we are in right now. Gas prices on this — yes, gas prices are affected by what's going on there. I hate high gas prices as much as anybody. I hate that I paid 3.70 at my local Shell station the other day when I filled up. I wish it was 2.70. I wish it was 1.70. I wish it was less than that. But that is something that we can also help in reducing taxes and in dealing with this enemy. Because if you think gas prices are expensive right now, wait til Iran has a nuclear weapon and they're holding the Straits of Hormuz hostage.” [CBS12 News, 8/21/26] (video)
8/6/26: Mast Said He Was “All For” The Trump Administration “Punching Iran Back In The Face For All Of The Attacks That They Have Been Levying Against Us.” According to Rep. Brian Mast at a tele-town hall, “QUESTIONER: I just want to know how he stands on the Iran conflict? MAST: Yeah. Look, I'm sure somebody is going to get to that question, so let me hit it. Iran, and I'll give people a piece of current events and history that I think even most people in Congress don't really realize this. If I picked any window of time before this operation, this war began, known as Epic Fury. If I've picked 30 months before this operation ever began, I could identify to you probably about 350 separate attacks that Iran has levied against the United States of America. Our merchant marine vessels, oil tankers, container ships our navy, our bases in places like Syria and Iraq. They killed contractors, they killed U.S. service members. And all of this, again, just in the let's say, 20, 30 months before this operation began. There is a forever war that is going on here, that this administration is the first one to actually punch back in the face. So I am all for them punching Iran back in the face for all of the attacks that they have been levying against us, and obviously, as most people see, are continuing to levy, not at the same rate that they were because we sunk their navy that they used to use to run boats into our ships, fly drones into our ships, both merchant and navy, fly ballistic missiles into them. This is all stuff that went on in the Strait of Hormuz long before this. So I'm all for us just [...] making sure again as most people here that they don't have a nuclear weapon because that would be the worst adversary anywhere to have nuclear weapons. As far as an adversary that doesn't yet have them.” [Tele-Town Hall - Rep. Brian Mast, 8/6/26] (audio)
7/27/26: Mast Admitted That The War In Iran Was Not A Fight “That Any American Asked For” But Maintained That The US Had To Be “Disruptive” And Respond To Iran’s Attacks. According to Rep. Brian Mast at the Palm Beach Center For Democracy And Policy Research, "MAST: This is not a fight that America asked for or that any American asked for, in my opinion. This is a fight that Iran has chosen every day. And I've used a couple of stats already. You know, you could use other stats going to October seven, going all the way back to, as I said before, the barracks, the Marine Corps barracks bombings in Beirut and all points in between. But again, just in the last 30 months, over 350 attacks before Epic fury ever began. That is Iran saying United States of America, we are going to bring the fight to you every day. We are going to fire at your merchant ships. We are going to fire at your naval ships. We are going to drive boats into your naval ships. We are going to fly drones into your naval ship. We are going to take your U.S. service members where we saw them outnumbered, go surround them with several Iranian ships. Put them on their knees at gunpoint on the deck of their US vessel. We are going to fly ballistic missiles into Tower 22 in Jordan and kill Sergeant Rivers, Sergeant Sanders, Sergeant Moffit in that place. Again all before Epic Fury ever began. What was going on was ignoring this, allowing it to be the status quo. And that is now being disruptive. I am an American. I'm an American former American service member. And in no way, shape or form am I ever going to let somebody hit me and allow that to go on responding, whether that's me personally or whether that's my country.” [Palm Beach Center For Democracy And Policy Research, 7/27/26] (video)
- Mast Said It “Is An Obvious Thing” That Being Involved In Conflict Makes The U.S. More Vulnerable Since We Have To Replenish Spent Munitions But Said Munitions Spent On Iran Were Used In “Good Cause.” According to Rep. Brian Mast at The Council On Foreign Relations, “HOST: You don't believe they're taking months to replenish the depletion of munitions so far and enemies potentially watching them. That doesn't leave the U.S. any more vulnerable in the time to replenish. MAST: I'm not trying to give you a headline that says Congressman Mast says United States of America left more vulnerable. So nobody go away and write this. But that is an obvious thing. If we fire one 5.56 millimeter NATO round out of a rifle, we are to some degree more vulnerable because we have one less round. Now, if we use that one round to go out there and put it square between the eyes of an enemy, then in the end we ultimately conducted a de-escalation for the United States of America, de-escalating the capabilities of our enemy. And we substantially, with every single one of those pieces of ordnance, de-escalated, the capabilities of an enemy that has been trying to wage war on us for the last 50 years, whether through what they've been doing to commercial ships, what they did to three U.S. service members at Tower 22, what they did in hitting our places in Syria and Iraq, these are all examples of before this conflict even beginning their pursuit of a nuclear weapons program. Every single one of those rounds that we fired at them, yes, we used it. We depleted it, but we used it in good cause to degrade their capabilities against us. And their capabilities against us are beyond degraded. Doesn't mean they have nothing, but they're beyond degraded. You layer that on top of what we're doing to their economy with our blockade of their ports. Significant damage.” [Council on Foreign Relations, 5/15/26] (video)
7/19/26: Mast Supported Trump’s War In Iran And Said Trump Decided To “Do The Hard Thing” And “Deal With The Problem” Of Iran. According to Rep. Brian Mast on Fox News: One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, “HOST: Congressman, why is it that some people are missing the point when it comes to the Iran war? That I believe, that you believe, that they are an enemy, permanent enemy of America that has to be confronted. MAST: Number one, politics, right. We’ll say that, you have people in the House of Representatives, mostly Democrats, that for the last however many years, they would go out there and say we literally need to use any and all means to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. That was what they voted literally under Joe Biden. President Trump comes in and said, yeah, you're right, we need to do anything to prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon. And now every last one of them pretends as though Iran was never a threat. That is pure politics. And the other point that I would say is you nailed it in your monologue. There saying President Trump had no choice. What we're seeing is an escalation of the status quo. Iran has been attacking us for years. People forget they killed three Americans at Tower 22 in Jordan, or that they put 11 Americans on their knees on a boat when they were attacking that boat at gunpoint. And the day to day harassment, there was over 350 attacks on vessels in the 30 months prior to Epic Fury ever beginning. This is the status quo. President Trump had the choice: Do we let the status quo continue and they get a nuclear weapon? Or do we deal with the problem once and for all? And he said, Yeah, we're going to do the hard thing. We're going to deal with the problem.” [Fox News: One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, 7/19/26] (video)
6/15/26: Mast Praised Trump And Said “The President Has Done A Very Good Job Throughout All Of Epic Fury And Beyond In Keeping The World Abreast Of The Negotiations” Between The US And Iran. According to Rep. Brian Mast on Fox News: America Reports, “HOST: What do you think will happen to the price of oil and therefore gasoline if the Strait of Hormuz does get fully open by the end of the week? And all these tankers that have been penned up in the Persian Gulf start to make their way out? MAST: The answer is obvious. You're going to see a reduction in the price of crude. The president has done a very good job throughout all of Epic Fury and beyond in keeping the world abreast of the negotiations that were going on, so that you didn't have these oil traders pushing the, the crude prices beyond where they were, making them go tremendously long. He kept them on edge.” [Fox News: America Reports, 6/15/26] (video)
4/28/26: Mast Praised Trump And Said His Blockade Of Iran Was “Absolutely Working.” According to Rep. Brian Mast on Fox Business: Mornings with Maria Bartiromo, “HOST: I want to get your reaction to this, in particular, this extensive reporting in the Journal this morning. And the quote is ‘Iran is flooded with so much unsold oil, it's stashing it in derelict tanks.’ It's called tank topping. Is this economic blockade of Iran, do you think, what is going to finally push the Iranians to come back to the negotiating table. MAST: It's not just that they're looking for places to store it, by the way. It's also they are burning it off because they do not have enough storage for all this. The economic blockade that the president very wisely put in place is absolutely working.” [Fox Business: Mornings with Maria Bartiromo, 4/28/26] (video)
¶ March 2026: Mast Was An Early Supporter Of Intense Military Action In Iran
3/12/26: When Asked If The US Should “Pick Up The Pace In Our Bombing” In Iran, Mast Replied “It’s Not Just That We Should, It’s That We Are.” According to Rep. Brian Mast on The Brian Kilmeade Show, “HOST: So do you think that means we should pick up the pace in our bombing? MAST: It's not just that we should, It's that we are. And, you know, you can hear General Cain speak about this very specifically about and again, it's two things to talk about, the converse side of one another, their volume, their frequency of strikes. Every moment is decreasing. Every day is decreasing, for the United States, our volume, our frequency is increasing, and it's moving into different waves that, you know, maybe on day one you couldn't hit this specific target because there was still a threat of surface to air coming out of Iran. Well, that threat is eliminated. So now you can move in further and hit this target that you didn't have access to before or now there was a threat of this specific drone cachet. Now, you've taken out that drone cachet so you can move on to this target. So the volume and frequency for us, again, very precise, very methodical to get to a certain point of destroying all Iranian military infrastructure that can reach out or has reached out and touched Americans. Their methodology, reach out and touch anything that they can, even though they could choose what they hit, but especially hitting their neighbors, oil refineries, vessels and civilian locations.” [The Brian Kilmeade Show, 3/12/26] (audio)
3/12/26: When Asked About Progress In Iran, Mast Said “I Think We Are In A Very Good Place.” According to Rep. Brian Mast on The Brian Kilmeade Show, “HOST: I want to get the perspective of Congressman Brian Mast. He's on their Foreign Relations committee, extremely respected, not only for fighting wars, but his analysis of the challenges overseas. Congressman, are we where you thought we would be at 12 days in? MAST: I think we are in a very good place. I can't say that 12 days ago, I had an expectation of exactly where we would be in 12 days. But what I could say about that in a more specific way is 12 days in, we've hit 5500 plus targets very, very precisely. All of these different Navy vessels with various capabilities, not just in the Straits of Hormuz, but in a number of different places across the region, smaller vessels capable of deploying sea mines in the Straits of Hormuz, military caches of these inter these ballistic missiles that they want to fire at the these systems that would actually fire them. There is a very strategic and methodical approach to each system that is being deployed. And the converse side that I would say of that is Iran has a capability to be very precise as well. We are precise. They are also precise, but they are precisely targeting merchant ships, container ships, oil ships, refineries, flying drones, specifically at hotels and condo buildings. And so what we are being precise at are two very specifically different things.” [The Brian Kilmeade Show, 3/12/26] (audio)
¶ Mast Repeatedly voted against ending the united states’ hostilities in iran
¶ July 2026: Mast Effectively Voted Against Withdrawing Troops From Iran
7/23/26: Mast Effectively Voted Against Withdrawing US Troops From Iran. In July 2026 Mast voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “motion to discharge the Foreign Relations Committee from further consideration of the joint resolution that would direct the president to withdraw U.S. armed forces hostilities against Iran not authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for military force.” The vote was on adoption of the resolution. The House adopted the resolution by a vote of 214 to 208. [House Vote 282, 7/23/26; Congressional Quarterly, 7/23/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.89]
- The Senate Voted Against Ending The War In Iran On The Same Day. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The House and Senate, in votes Thursday on ending the Iran war, came to different conclusions, but the majority of voting members of Congress said it is time to bring U.S. troops home. The House, for the second time, formally called on President Donald Trump to end the war, approving 214-208 a nonbinding concurrent resolution (H Con Res 89) by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.” [Congressional Quarterly, 7/23/26]
- The Vote Came After The Trump Administration Declared A Memorandum Of Understanding From The Previous Month “Over”, With Three US Troops Killed The Weekend Before And Houthi Strikes Against Two Saudi Tankers The Day Before. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Last month, the Trump administration announced it had reached a memorandum of understanding with Iran. But less than a month later, Trump declared the MOU ‘over.’ On July 10, he formally notified Congress fighting in the war had resumed. Over the weekend, three U.S. troops were killed in an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan, while a fourth U.S. service member in Iraq died during what was supposed to be a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone. Iran’s proxy group in Yemen, the Houthis, struck two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday. Such attacks could choke off another bottleneck in the global economy in addition to the ongoing throttling of trade in the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the war.” [Congressional Quarterly, 7/23/26]
¶ June 2026: Mast Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War
6/3/26: Mast Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War. In June 2026, Mast voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “adoption of a resolution that would direct the president to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.” The vote was on passage. The House adopted the resolution by a vote of 215 to 208. [House Vote 199, 6/3/26; Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res. 86]
- The Vote Occurred As The War Entered Its Fourth Month, And Was The House’s Fourth Vote On The War As Gas And Food Prices Continued To Rise. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Either way, supporters say the House adopting the resolution sends an important message to Trump that Congress is fed up with the war as it lumbers into its fourth month. ‘We're now past 90 days, there seems to be no end to this war, and folks want some accountability, Democrats and Republicans,’ New York Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the sponsor of Wednesday’s resolution, said ahead of the vote. ‘The American people are suffering. The cost of gas continues to go up, the cost of food and inflation keeps going up.’ ‘So it's been building and building,’ Meeks added. Wednesday’s vote was the House’s fourth on an Iran war powers resolution since the war started at the end of February, with each vote getting tighter than before. In the third vote last month, the measure was rejected 212-212.” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26]
- Gop Leadership Delayed The Vote Through A Week-Long Recess When It Became Clear It Would Pass. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The House had originally been slated to vote on Meeks’ resolution before the Memorial Day recess. But when it became apparent the resolution was likely to be approved, particularly with a handful of Republican absences, GOP leadership yanked the vote from the schedule. Republicans could not delay the vote beyond Wednesday since the 1973 War Powers Resolution (PL 93-148) requires the House to vote within three legislative days of a measure being called up on the floor.” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26]
- The Vote Came Amidst Ongoing Strikes Despite A Proclaimed Ceasefire With Iran Claiming It Was Suspending Talks Following An Israeli Incursion Of Lebanon. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The growing congressional angst over the war comes as an already fragile ceasefire appears increasingly tenuous and the Trump administration’s negotiations with Iran stumble. Early Wednesday morning, Iran launched a missile and drone attack at an airport in Kuwait, killing an Indian national and injuring dozens of other people, in what Tehran described as a response to U.S. strikes on Iran the night before. U.S. Central Command said Iran also targeted U.S. forces in Kuwait but that air defenses shot down the drones and ‘ensured no American personnel or assets were harmed.’ On Tuesday evening, Central Command said it conducted ‘self-defense strike’ on Iran’s Qeshm Island in response to Iran firing missiles and drones toward Kuwait and Bahrain. Hours earlier, Central Command also said U.S. forces fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of a Botswana-flagged oil tanker that it alleged was trying to evade the U.S. blockade against Iranian ports. The exchange of fire comes amid on-again-off-again talks to end the war. On Monday, Iran said it was suspending talks with the United States in response to Israel’s incursion into Lebanon. But Trump maintained that talks are continuing despite Iran’s statement, posting on Truth Social on Tuesday that ‘the conversations between us have been going on continuously.’” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/3/26]
¶ May 2026: Mast Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War
5/14/26: Mast Voted Against Terminating Hostilities Against Iran Without A Declaration Of War. In May 2026, Mast voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force against Iran. It would clarify that nothing in the measure could be construed to disrupt intelligence, counterintelligence or investigative activities.” The vote was on passage. The House rejected the resolution by a vote of 212 to 212. [House Vote 170, 5/14/26; Congressional Quarterly, 5/14/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res. 75]
¶ April 2026: Mast Voted Against Directing The President To Withdraw Troops From Iran Unless Authorized By Congress
4/16/26: Mast Voted Against Directing The President To Withdraw Troops From Iran Unless Authorized By Congress. In April 2026, Mast voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran. The measure would exempt the use of U.S. armed forces that may be necessary to defend the U.S. or a U.S. ally or partner from imminent attack.” The vote was on passage. The House rejected the resolution by a vote of 213 to 214. [House Vote 114, 4/16/26; Congressional Quarterly, 4/16/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.40]
¶ March 2026: Mast Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran And Celebrated It
3/5/26: Mast Voted Against Directing President Trump To Withdraw Troops From Iran. In March 2026, Mast voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would direct the president to terminate the use of U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.” The vote was on passage. The House rejected the concurrent resolution by a vote of 212 to 219. [House Vote 85, 3/5/26; Congressional Quarterly, 3/5/26; Congressional Actions, H.Con.Res.38]
- 3/5/26: Mast Celebrated This Vote And Said He Supported “President Trump’s Article II Authority In Operation Epic Fury.” According to a press release from the House Committee On Foreign Affairs, "Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast issued the following statement after the House voted to reject Democrats’ ploy to block President Trump’s ability to respond to Iran after overwhelmingly passing a separate GOP-led measure reaffirming Iran’s standing as the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. ‘The House just voted overwhelmingly to support President Trump’s Article II authority in Operation Epic Fury and call Iran exactly what it is: the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. This murderous regime has posed an imminent threat against every American both at home and abroad for the last 47 years. But while President Trump finally gave them an imminent response to put an end to their terror, Democrats did everything possible to stop him. They failed. The U.S. will no longer back down to Iran or anyone else who threatens us. President Trump is keeping America safe. Operation Epic Fury is Peace through Strength in action.’ " [Press Release – House Committee On Foreign Affairs, 3/5/26]
¶ the iran war was costly for floridians
As Of June 2026, The War In Iran Cost U.S. Families $100 Billion So Far. According To Fortune, "$750 a household—or $100 billion. This is the cost that Moody’s has calculated the Iran War has been so far to the U.S. consumer. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said the cost passed on to households is the result of increased military spending and higher prices as a result of oil supply disruption out of the Middle East. Since the U.S. and Israel launched action against Iran—setting off a domino-effect of attacks across the Middle East—brent crude has topped $110 a barrel on multiple occasions." [Fortune, 6/2/26]
July 2026: Prices For Fresh Food, School Supplies, And Any Goods That Required Shipment Were Expected To Increase Amid Energy Price Increases Due To The United States’ War With Iran. According to PBS, “Already feeling pinched since the start of the Iran war, consumers are likely to feel more pain ahead as oil prices pushed past $100 a barrel Thursday amid renewed fighting and military strikes that have left global oil supplies stranded in the Middle East. The elevated price marked a turn from lower oil prices enjoyed briefly when hostilities between the U.S. and Iran waned in June. Brent crude, the international standard, last reached $100 a barrel in May. Companies that produce and sell fresh food, school supplies and anything that gets shipped using fuel reported cost impacts from an earlier spike in energy prices after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. They're likely to continue passing some of their increased expenses to consumers.” [PBS News, 7/24/26]
¶ Floridians Were Forced To Pay $700 Million More For Gas Because Of The War In Iran
In March Of 2026 Alone, Floridians Paid $700 Million More For Gas Than They Would Have If The War With Iran Had Not Been Started. According to WINK News, "Gas prices in Florida have climbed to an average of $4.16 per gallon, according to AAA. The ongoing war in Iran has significantly driven up fuel prices. Florida's lack of refineries and crude oil pipelines makes the state heavily dependent on imports from barges. Those barges can deliver fuel elsewhere, forcing Florida to compete with other states and countries for diesel, jet fuel and gasoline. The rising costs are forcing some residents to make difficult lifestyle choices. ‘Unfortunately, when you have to pay for gas, you have to make decisions about what you would like to do. Maybe not visit as many restaurants,’ said Janet O'Rourke, a Collier County resident. Experts say they don't expect prices to drop anytime soon. While Florida's gas prices are high, other states are facing even steeper costs. According to the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, Texas drivers have been hit the hardest in the nation, paying more than $1 billion more in gas in the last month. Florida paid around $700 million more during the same period." [WINK News, 7/14/26]
As Of May 18, 2026, Florida Gas Was Up 44.6 Percent In Cost From Before The War In Iran.
[Center for American Progress, 5/18/26]
¶ The War In Iran Hurt Floridian Farmers With High Diesel And Fertilizer Prices
Florida Farmers Experienced A Rise In Prices Of Fertilizer And Diesel Fuel Due To The War With Iran. According to WFTV 9, "Florida farmers are experiencing steep rises in the prices of essential supplies like fertilizer and diesel fuel since the beginning of the war with Iran. These increasing costs have caused agricultural producers statewide to face difficulties in managing their operational expenses. The price increases involve a 33% rise in fertilizer costs and fuel prices climbing above $5 per gallon. […] Farmers rely on diesel to operate heavy machinery and transport agricultural products." [WFTV 9, 3/22/26]