Hour 1 - Trump's Big Decision

Summary

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show: Hour 1 - "Trump's Big Decision"
Release Date: June 17, 2025

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Overview

In this pivotal episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve deep into a critical moment in U.S. foreign policy: President Donald Trump's impending decision on how to address Iran's nuclear ambitions. The discussion navigates the complexities of military intervention, the potential use of advanced bunker-busting bombs, and the controversial topic of regime change within Iran. Featuring insightful analysis, expert opinions, and live listener interactions, this episode provides a comprehensive examination of one of the most consequential foreign policy decisions of Trump's tenure.

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1. Setting the Stage: The Iran Nuclear Crisis

The episode begins with Buck Sexton outlining the gravity of the situation:

Buck Sexton [00:05]: "We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran."

Travis and Sexton emphasize the strategic advantage the U.S. holds in monitoring Iran's airspace, attributing it to superior American technology and resources.

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2. The Core Decision: Military Intervention vs. Diplomatic Solutions

Buck Sexton articulates the dilemma facing President Trump:

Buck Sexton [02:35]: "President Trump has a very important decision to make... should we use American assets bombs to once and for all eliminate Iran's ability to have nuclear weapons?"

He explains that Iran's nuclear materials are deeply entrenched within mountainous regions, necessitating the use of specialized bunker-busting bombs that the U.S. uniquely possesses.

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3. The Bunker-Busting Bombs: A Technical Insight

Sexton provides an analysis of the military capabilities required to neutralize Iran's nuclear infrastructure:

Buck Sexton [05:59]: "Eliminating the program altogether could prove incredibly difficult without more time, larger bombs and assistance from the United States."

This segment underscores the technical challenges and the potential necessity of American military intervention to complement Israel's efforts.

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4. Regime Change: Ethical and Strategic Implications

The discussion shifts to the sensitive topic of removing Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khomeini:

Buck Sexton [06:45]: "Should we okay... the removal of the Ayatollahs from leadership of Iran?"

Sexton compares the situation to past military interventions, referencing Iraq and Afghanistan, and debates the potential repercussions of such actions.

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5. Listener Perspectives: Balancing Security and Stability

The show invites listeners to weigh in, presenting a range of opinions. One caller, Greg from Port St. Lucie, Florida, supports decisive action:

Greg [28:26]: "President Trump has been consistently saying Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon... whatever he does, that is his focus."

Conversely, another listener cautions against major military intervention, drawing parallels to historical destabilization:

Unnamed Speaker [28:26]: "Remember Dick Cheney during Desert Storm? Taking out Saddam destabilized the Middle East."

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6. Expert Opinion: Senator Ted Cruz Weighs In

A highlight of the episode is the live interview with Senator Ted Cruz, who offers a staunchly pro-Israel stance:

Ted Cruz [33:38]: "Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon is the most acute national security threat facing the United States today."

Cruz advocates for unwavering support of Israel's military actions and emphasizes the dire risks posed by a nuclear-armed Ayatollah:

Ted Cruz [34:25]: "They truly do believe. Kill the infidel, kill the non-believer. This is their fundamental belief system. They will use the weapon."

He also addresses the controversial topic of regime change, expressing support for weakening the Ayatollah's regime through economic sanctions and military pressure rather than direct invasion.

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7. Strategic Analysis: The Antibiotic Analogy

Buck Sexton employs a compelling analogy to illustrate the urgency of decisive action:

Buck Sexton [29:09]: "It's like treating an infection with antibiotics and then stopping prematurely. The virus comes back stronger."

He argues that partial measures would only allow Iran to regroup and pursue nuclear capabilities further, advocating for a comprehensive approach to neutralize the threat.

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8. The Final Verdict: A Call to Action

As the episode draws to a close, Sexton reiterates the necessity of eliminating Iran's nuclear aspirations to ensure long-term global safety:

Buck Sexton [31:47]: "If we don't end Iran's ability to undertake enrichment to try to produce nuclear weapons, we don't end it once and for all."

He emphasizes the broader implications for international security and the stability of the Middle East, reinforcing the need for a bold and unwavering strategy.

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Conclusion and Forward Look

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton conclude by highlighting upcoming discussions and guest appearances, including Senator Rand Paul and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. They reassure listeners that the show will continue to provide in-depth analysis and updates as President Trump navigates this high-stakes decision.

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Notable Quotes

• Buck Sexton [02:35]: "President Trump has a very important decision to make... should we use American assets bombs to once and for all eliminate Iran's ability to have nuclear weapons?"

• Ted Cruz [34:25]: "They will use the weapon. We must stop them no matter what it takes."

• Buck Sexton [29:09]: "It's like treating an infection with antibiotics and then stopping prematurely. The virus comes back stronger."

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Key Takeaways

• Strategic Advantage: The U.S. holds significant control over Iranian airspace, providing a tactical edge in monitoring and potential military actions.

• Military Intervention: The use of advanced bunker-busting bombs is a critical consideration for neutralizing Iran's nuclear capabilities.

• Regime Change Debate: Removing the Ayatollah poses ethical and strategic challenges, with potential risks of destabilization weighed against the need to prevent nuclear armament.

• Expert Insights: Senator Ted Cruz advocates for strong support of Israel and underscores the existential threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran.

• Listener Engagement: The show features diverse opinions, reflecting the national debate on the appropriate course of action.

• Urgency and Decisiveness: The antibiotic analogy emphasizes the necessity of complete and decisive measures to prevent the resurgence of nuclear threats.

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This episode serves as a comprehensive exploration of the intricate and high-stakes decision facing President Trump, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of the geopolitical landscape and the potential paths forward in addressing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Transcript

[Clay Travis]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Richard Karn]

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[Clay Travis]

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Clay Travis]

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Ted Cruz]

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[Richard Karn]

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[J.R. Martinez]

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[Unnamed Speaker]

This medal is for the men who went down that day.

[J.R. Martinez]

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[Buck Sexton]

Welcome to today's edition of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton show podcast. Welcome in Tuesday Edition, Clay Travis, Buck Sexton Show Appreciate all of you hanging out with us. Buck still on the French Riviera as he will be all week. I am in Washington, D.C. and I will be with you solo all week long. Appreciate all of you hanging out with us. We have got a lot to discuss. In particular, the decision that now looms for President Trump as he has to decide what involvement, if any, should the United States undertake to help Israel when it comes to taking away the nuclear weapon option once and for all from Iran. The president just put up this message. We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American made, conceived and manufactured stuff. Nobody does it better. Key word there to me, we we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran, suggesting that the United States is consulting with Iran at least enough for the royal we to be used there in some context. There are a lot of different stories out there. I would say Russia withdrawing support for the Islamic Republic is pretty significant. And I'm going to open up phone lines and let you guys weigh in because you may disagree with the take that I'm about to give you. Let me also let you know we got some great guests coming your way. Couple of Senators, Ted Cruz at the bottom of this hour from Texas at the top of the third hour, 2pm Eastern, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. And then in studio with me here in Washington, D.C. at 2:30 Eastern, the chairman of the FCC, Brendan Carr. So we're going to have some interesting conversations with those guests. But right off the top, President Trump has a very important decision to make. According to reports out. And I will play audio of I will play audio of this discussion. But we do not have meaning, we do not have the ability to stay completely out of that this conflict if we want to eliminate Iran's ability to have nuclear weapons going forward. In particular, Iran has buried much of their nuclear material deep inside of A mountain. And in order to reach that location, we need to use United States bunker busting bombs that would require us to get involved. Let me play this from cnn. Kaitlan Collins explaining exactly what would be necessary in order to once and for all destroy Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities. Cut seven.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Tonight, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says strikes on Iran have set its nuclear program back, and I'm quoting him now, a very long time. But based on CNN analysis of one of the secretive Iranian nuclear facilities, eliminating the program altogether could prove incredibly difficult without more time, larger bombs and assistance from the United the Porto plant. The nuclear plant has been a key target of Israel's over the last several days. And we have new satellite images that show just how hard it could be to take out and why. If you look at this, you see there's a security perimeter protecting what appears to be a heavily fortified mountain layer. And it's believed that hundreds of centrifuges placed nearly 300ft underground are working to enrich uranium that could be ultimately used for nuclear bombs.

[Buck Sexton]

Okay, so that is the background on why we may have the ability to do something that Israel does not when it comes to the technology and power of our bombs that they do not have. Now, the decision that Trump is going to have to make is should we use American assets bombs to once and for all eliminate Iran from being able to get nuclear weapons. Secondarily, should we okay. Or nod in some way assent towards Israel's desire to take out the Ayatollah Khomeini and once and for all remove the Ayatollahs from leadership of Iran, which they have had since the 1979 revolution. Here is Benjamin Netanyahu, cut 12. Talking about assassinating the ayatollah. U.S. officials tell us that the president flatly rejected a plan, an opportunity that used that the Israelis had to take out the Supreme Leader. Do you understand his concern? My understanding is his concern is that this would escalate the conflict beyond where it is already. It's not going to escalate the conflict. It's going to end the conflict. We've had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that is terrorizes everyone in the Middle east, has bombed the Aramco oil fields in Saudi Arabia, is spreading terrorism and subversion and sabotage everywhere. That's the forever war is what Iran wants. And they're bringing us to the brink of nuclear war. In fact, what Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this, this aggression. Okay, so the double question that Trump has to answer as we sit here today is should we give assistance in the way basically of these bunkers busting bombs that would wipe out nuclear capabilities of Iran that are deeply buried underground and reportedly Israel does not have the ability to do it based on the weaponry that they control. Second, should we in any way nod ascent or maybe even potentially be involved in the removal of the Ayatollahs? This is split, very reasonable, very rational people on both the left and the right. J.D. vance just put out a long piece saying that I'll read to you at some point, but essentially saying President Trump should be trusted to make this decision and that Trump has been consistent that Iran can never get a nuclear weapon and anything that he does related to that will be in his decade long career as a politician. Further, echoing the comments that he has made throughout that Iran can't get a nuclear weapon, here's my answer. I think we should once and for all wipe out Iran's ability to have nuclear weapons. I think that if that requires us using our bunker bombs to wipe out that capability, I think we should do it. Second, I think the Ayatollahs have to go now. Those may be controversial opinions. Some of you may disagree. 800-282-2882. We will take your calls to agree or disagree. You can also talk back. We know. And let me lay out why I believe this is necessary. Every time that we have negotiated with Iran, especially with the deal that Obama struck with Iran, the Iranians have been unwilling to accede to the agreements. They always cheat, they always try to get nuclear weapons. I don't blame them because the Ayatollah see nuclear weapons in the same way that Kim Jong Un in North Korea did, which is once they have them, the danger of trying to take them out becomes so pronounced that they will be in power effectively forever. I understand why Iran wants nuclear weapons. It's a rational decision for the Ayatollahs to pursue them. It's why I don't believe that Iranian Ayatollah leadership is ever going to give up the pursuit of nuclear weapons. There is no doubt that they are pursuing them. There is no doubt that they have an incentive to one day have them because it increases the overall power and stability of the Ayatollahs. So to me, this is a bit like starting to treat an infection for antibiotics and then you stop. Iran is right now on the precipice of having the Ayatollahs thrown out of control of the country and also of never being able to have nuclear weapons for the life of anyone listening right now, I think we have the ability to ensure that if we do not do it now, I think using my antibiotics example, if you start to take antibiotics and you have an infection and then you stop, you can actually strengthen the infection because you didn't do enough to knock it out. We have to, in my opinion, and I know it's a tough call, and this is why presidents age so much when they're in office, because making tough calls is the ultimate job. And there are good people arguing on both sides of this issue from a variety of different perspectives. I think reasoned, articulate, logical cases can be made for either decision. To me, if you believe that Iran wants nuclear weapons and has been pursuing them for a long time, which I do, then you have to, in my opinion, wipe them out once and for all. Now, some of you out there are saying, well, this sounds too similar to Iraq, and we will talk about it during the course of this program. I oppose the Iraq war back in the day, 20 some odd years ago, because to me it never made sense to connect Saddam Hussein to 9, 11. And we were the aggressor going into Iraq and the attempt to build a new Iraqi government and the trillions of dollars that we spent and the loss of men and the loss of basically everything without much benefit, to me felt very similar to Afghanistan. So what would later happen in Afghanistan? I do not believe that the United States should take the next step of having boots on the ground and trying to pick who the leaders of Iran are going to be going forward. There seems to be some optimism that the Iranian people might well support their royal family, which was deposed and kicked out of the country in the 1970s. And again, if you go back and watch those YouTube videos, they're up. You can go check them out. Iran, for a Middle Eastern country, used to be quite free. Instead of walking around in hijabs and burkas, women were walking around in high heels and skirts. This was a jewel of Middle Eastern economy. They have fallen behind. Saudi Arabia has passed them. Qatar has passed them. All of these other countries that used to look up to Iran have now ended up surpassing Iran. Persians, proud people that live there. I think economically this is what I love about what Trump is doing. He's not focusing on religion. He's focusing on economic opportunity. That doesn't mean there's something wrong with the religious focus. But Christians, Jews and Muslims have struggled to get along, as you well know, in the Middle east for a very long time. Trying to reconcile those religions can be challenging. Instead, to me, what Trump seems to have been successful in doing is saying, hey, let's focus on commerce, let's focus on capitalism, let's focus on growing everybody's economy together. And that seems to have been received very favorably. Trump has done a phenomenal job, in my opinion, and his team on Middle Eastern relationships, building them, the Middle Eastern countries, by and large, Saudi Arabia, the largest and most powerful of them. They want the Ayatollah is gone. They actually support Israel and the United States. If we make this decision, it's going to be a hard one, it's going to be a difficult one. We'll talk about this. I'll certainly talk about it with Ted Cruz and Senator Rand Paul, who are both going to be on this program. And we'll take some of your calls and some of your talkbacks on this decision. But to me, this is a hard decision. But Presidents are elected to make hard decisions. Trump, in my opinion, should wipe out the nuclear capabilities once and for all and I think should quietly assent to the idea from Israel of taking out the Ayatollahs who are persecuting authoritarians who do not have, I don't believe, substantial support inside of Iran. I think that what replaced them, while potentially uncertain, would be better and safer for all of us than what is there now. America first does not mean America alone. We have to make rational decisions in the larger world about how to ensure that we are safe. And I do not believe that if we allowed Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon, that would make the world safer. We've already got one crazy man, Kim Jong Un, with nuclear weapons. I don't think it's a good decision to allow Iran run by frankly religious zealot crazy people to have a nuclear weapon. We have seen what happens when religious zealot crazy people from the Middle east decide to trade their focus on us. It's 9 11. I believe that the Ayatollah is not just chanting Death to America and leading those chants in Iran because he wants a few good viral moments. I think he hates America and would do us ill and therefore we have to prepare for it. Even the most tech savvy companies have a hard time keeping their customer databases safe from cyber attack. That's what is the point of lifelock. They monitor millions of data points a second for risk to your identity. And if you become a victim of identity theft, a dedicated US based restoration specialist will fix it, guaranteed. Or you'll get your money back. You can get your online identity protected before it's too late. Join now. Use my name clay for 40% off your first year that is lifelock.com my name clay for 40% off YOUR first year 1-800-lifelock. 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[Clay Travis]

You know what's great about your investment account with the big guys? It's actually a time machine. Log in and zoom. Welcome back to 1999. It's time for an upgrade. At public.com you can invest in almost everything, stocks, bonds, options and more. You could even put your cash to work at an industry leading force. 4.1% APY. Leave your clunky outdated platform behind. @Public.com Go to Public.com and fund your account in five minutes or less. Pay for by Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Full [e-mail] disclosures hi, I'm Richard Karn.

[Richard Karn]

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[Buck Sexton]

You agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Host. Message and data rates may apply. No purchase required. Terms apply. Available@pocket host.com terms the Medal of Honor.

[J.R. Martinez]

Is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Unnamed Speaker]

This medal is for the men who went down that day. It's for the families of those who didn't make it.

[J.R. Martinez]

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[Buck Sexton]

President Trump just posting in addition to the fact that we, which seems significant meaning Israel and the United States control the skies above Iran says we know exactly where the so called quote Supreme Leader is hiding. He is an easy target but is safe there. We are not going to take him out kill, at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter. So there is Trump giving at least for now, his position on the Ayatollah. We are not going to take him out and kill him, at least not for now. Is that speaking on behalf of Israel too? I don't know. Or is that just speaking on behalf of the United States? That is interesting. Trump has also said that Iran just now must engage in unconditional surrender and so this thing is getting spread in a major way. The story here. So I'm reacting in real time reading the President's comments. We'll ask Senator Ted Cruz about these because he is scheduled to join us in just a couple of minutes. And I would say this feels like a major point of decision is close. So will we go in on the Ayatollah? Will we take out the nuclear weapons? When Trump says unconditional surrender, what does that mean that he wants Iran to do, put down their weapons and not fire back? I presume. But what are the terms of unconditional surrender on the Iranian side? Does that mean that the Ayatollahs are giving up power? What does that look like? We will discuss with Senator Ted Cruz and we'll take some of your reactions as well. First day of summer Saturday, officially, but it's getting hot lots of places. And while you're enjoying that summer sun, it also brings big thunderstorms across the whole country and that can get gutters clogged that you can protect your home now with Leaffilter, America's number one gutter and gutter protection companies. Save up to 30% off your entire order. Go to leaffilter.com clay and get started. Today. Leaffilters Trusted Pros will clean out, realign, seal your gutters before installing Leaffilters award winning and patented technology trusted by over a million homeowners. Schedule your free inspection. Get up to 30% off your entire purchase at leaffilter.com clay that's L E A F filter.com clay see representatives for warranty details and get hooked up with the start of summer with clean [e-mail] Clay we're going to be joined by Senator Ted Cruz in a moment. I believe he is voting right now on the Senate floor. So let me go ahead and hit you with this off the top. So we cleaned up for the backside. Our friends at Tunnel the Towers do incredible work and unfortunately 911 still taking lives today. We remember the 2,977 people lost on 9 11, including many first responders. But since then, many have died from 911 related illnesses. And and unfortunately, there's a whole generation of kids growing up that don't know much about 9 11. That's why the Tunnel of the Towers 911 Institute is helping to fix that by instructing kids in grades K through 12 with nonfiction stories surrounding what happened on 9 11. First person accounts, the Discovering Heroes book series, 911 speakers bureau to never forget we must educate future generations, help our nation keep its vow to join me in donating $11 a month to Tunnel the Towers at t2t.org that's t the number 2t.org. While we wait on Senator Ted Cruz to join us, several of you wanting to weigh in. Let's go to James in Texas, which got James. Yeah. Play.

[Richard Karn]

I would like to both applause, accept and applaud your. Your antibiotic.

[Buck Sexton]

Spot on. Yeah. Thank you. I think he was breaking up there a little bit. He was using the antibiotic analogy to say that he agrees. By the way, I told you I would read this. I'm gonna go back to calls in a sec here, but let me hit you with what JD Vance posted. I'm seeing this from the inside, and I'm admittedly biased, but there's a lot of crazy stuff on social media. Again, this is JD Vance. So I wanted to address directly some things on the Iran issue. First, Trump has been POTUS, has been amazingly consistent over 10 years that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Over the last few months, he's encouraged the foreign policy team to reach a deal with Iran to accomplish this goal. Presidents made clear Iran cannot have uranium enrichment. And he said repeatedly this would happen one of two ways. The easy way or the other way. Then there's an explanation of uranium enrichment, and he says, continuing. The president shown remarkable restraint, keeping our military's focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens. He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the President. And of course, people are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy. But I believe the President has earned some trust on this issue. Having seen up close and personal, I can assure you he is only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people's goals. Whatever he does, that is his focus. That is J.D. vance, Greg in Port St. Lucie, Florida. What you got for us?

[Unnamed Speaker]

Avid listener. How are you? So I'm going to have to disagree with you on behalf of dropping the bunker buster. I mean, if there's so many people that are just, you know, in the shadows that are quietly supporting this, then I think they need to help provide some bombs. I don't think sending in a major bunker buster is a great idea. We got to remember there was the interview back in 94 with Dick Cheney during the whole Desert Storm and Kuwait situation. We were asked, you know, why didn't we take out Saddam at the time? Because he said that would be a bad idea. Because then he destabilized the Middle East. All right? As much of a dictator as he is, he destabilize it, okay?

[Buck Sexton]

I understand that argument, but let me go back to the bomb. What would you do? Do you believe that Iran wants nuclear weapons?

[Unnamed Speaker]

I do absolutely believe that they want nuclear weapons.

[Buck Sexton]

Okay.

[Unnamed Speaker]

So I don't think.

[Buck Sexton]

Why. Sorry, let me just ask. Yeah, but so if, if it is required to stop them from getting nuclear weapons that we use because they have buried much of their production way underground to try to prevent it from being reached by bombs, and if only the United States has the technology and the bomb making ability to reach that, would you leave it alone and let Iran continue to try to produce a nuclear weapon?

[Unnamed Speaker]

No, I'm not saying leave it alone. I'm saying right now we know that the Ayatollah is extremely. His health is beginning to fade. He's just 87 years old. Okay? We know that the regime's getting ready to collapse, especially with all the, you know, Israeli, you know, strikes and everything. We see that, you know, they're getting ready to fall. Okay? The leadership is collapsing. You know, it's just not good. So let's just blow out all of the tunnels and anything that leads down into there, seal it off. All right? So that way they can't get down into it. By that, by the time they're able to get access to that again, there's already going to be a regime change. Okay. I think we should allow the region to deal with this issue. I think, you know, I'm just a carpenter from, you know, a small town in Pennsylvania originally. I moved to Port St. Lucie about a decade ago. All right. But we're tired of the doom and gloom and the constant shelling in the Middle East.

[Buck Sexton]

Okay, thank you for that. Thank you for the call. My. Thank you for the call. I'm going to go to more calls. My concern, candidly, is that if we don't end Iran's ability to undertake enrichment to try to produce nuclear weapons, we don't end it once and for all now we're going to be back at this exact same situation in the years ahead. And that's why I use the antibiotic example. If you've got a sickness and you start to treat it with antibiotics and you actually don't fully wipe it out, you just take a couple of pills or for a few days, then the virus actually can come back much stronger than if you go ahead and wipe it out once and for all. Right? That's my analogy of what I'm concerned of. If we don't take out Iran once and for all right now. Ken in southeast Michigan. Ken, what you got for US.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Well, I think it's essential that we.

[Ted Cruz]

Don'T underestimate how do vault the leaders.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Of Iran are to their religious conviction.

[Ted Cruz]

Yes, they will use the nuclear bomb.

[Unnamed Speaker]

The second they have it.

[Ted Cruz]

They truly do believe. Kill the infidel, kill the non believer. This is their fundamental belief system. They will use the weapon.

[Unnamed Speaker]

They're not the Chinese, they're not the Russians. They're not the North Koreans. They will use it and we must stop them no matter what it takes.

[Buck Sexton]

Thank you for the call. That's my concern for people out there who say, okay, why do we care if Iran gets a nuclear weapon? I understand why Iran wants a nuclear weapon because the Ayatollahs believe that much like Kim Jong Un, that will keep them from ever being replaced. That is a logical goal on their side. But also, we know that Muslim fundamentalists who are religiously motivated are not necessarily going to engage in rational behavior. And they may decide at some point in time to actually fire a nuke and try to wipe out Israel. They may decide at some point in time to unleash that nuclear arsenal on other countries around the world. I'm nervous about Kim Jong Un doing it. I wish he didn't have nuclear weapons. I think America would be safer. I think the world would be safer. Senator Ted Cruz with us now. He's just coming off the Senate floor. I know this is a tough call, and you may not have been expecting that this was going to emerge as the tough time that we have now to make this call, but what do you think America should do as it pertains to Iran, given what's going on right now?

[Ted Cruz]

To be honest, Clay, I don't think it's a tough call at all. I think we should stand unshakably with the state of Israel. I think Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon is the most acute national security threat facing the United States today. And I think Israel acting decisively to take out Iran's capability to develop a nuclear weapon is overwhelmingly beneficial to America. It makes us safer because I think if the Ayatollah were to acquire a nuclear weapon, the risks are unacceptably high that the Ayatollah would use that weapon and potentially kill millions of Americans or millions of Israelis. And that's not a risk that we should allow.

[Buck Sexton]

I agree with that. In particular, we're diving into the decision that Trump may have to make if you were president right now or if the president called and asked for your advice. If we need Israel does if they need our bunker busting bombs in order to get to some of these nuclear facilities. Should we give that assistance to Israel? Israel, if asked in your mind, second part of this, should the ayatollahs be removed in some way, either allowing Israel to do it or potentially America being involved? How would you handle those two questions?

[Ted Cruz]

So let's break them down one at a time. So right now, Israel is conducting the military strikes. The American military is not conducting them. We are assisting with intelligence. We're helping Israel with missile defense in Israel because Iran is firing ballistic missiles and trying to kill as many civilians as possible in Israel. And I would note there's a huge difference between Israel's attacks, which are targeted military attacks, taking out the senior leadership of their military, who are charged with conducting the war, and also taking out their nuclear facilities. In contrast, Iran is trying to kill civilians, as many as possible. I do not believe under any circumstances we should see American boots on the ground. I don't think our military is needed to be on the ground here. I think Israel is capable of doing this. The one exception is the question you asked of bunker busters, and in particular, most of the nuclear facilities Israel is taking out quite effectively right now. The one major exception is a facility that's called Fordow. And Fordow is built into the base of a mountain, and it was deliberately built to make it very difficult to bomb. And Israel lacks the technical capacity. They don't have big enough bunker busters to bomb and hit Fordow, whereas America does. And so that's the one aspect I think there is a serious argument. I've long argued that America should be willing to provide those bunker busters because Fordow was designed to help Iran. That's where they're conducting their most sensitive nuclear research. And it was designed to help them get a nuclear weapon, which they intend to, I believe, to be able to use. And the Ayatollah chants, death to America and death to Israel. And I believe them. And so I think it is very worthwhile to do what is necessary to prevent them from having a nuclear weapon that could help them make death to America and death to Israel much more of a reality and be used to commit murder on a massive scale. Now, on the second question about regime change, in my view, the world would be much better if the Ayatollahs were no longer in charge of Iran. I think the Ayatollah is a theocratic zealot. He refers to Israel as the Little Satan. He refers to America as the Great Satan. And unquestionably, Iran would be better. Israel would be better America would be better if the ayatollah were not in charge. I don't think that means we should invade Iran and try to topple the Ayatollah, but I think we should use every tool we have, in particular economic sanctions and pressure. And indeed, this military campaign directed at stopping the nuclear program, I think is weakening the regime as well. And so we should certainly cheer if the Ayatollah, if the regime falls. But whether it does or not, the objective of Israel's attack here is not regime change, but it is to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

[Buck Sexton]

If Netanyahu asked for the ability to kill the Ayatollah, should Trump, in your mind, give that nod, even if we're not directly involved?

[Ted Cruz]

You know, look, that. That's a difficult question. I talked about it on the latest episode of my podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, and we talked about it at length. There has been reporting. I don't know if this is accurate. I don't know independently, but I've read the newspaper stories that say that Netanyahu wanted to target the Ayatollah, and the Trump White House asked them not to. I don't have a reason to doubt or dispute that reporting. And listen, I think it's a close call. Generally in warfare, nations refrain from targeting heads of state. It's also complicated by the ayatollah being simultaneously a religious figure and taking out a religious figure. There are real risks to that. There are risks of making him a martyr and inflaming things further. So I think it is a reasonable decision to say, rather than targeting the Ayatollah himself, who's an old man, that what they're doing, and Israel is doing it with amazing precision, is they're taking out the senior military leadership. They're taking out, taking out the head of the IRGC and the chief of staff, and in fact, then the next chief of staff, they keep taking out the senior leadership of the military that is number one in charge of waging the terror war. Iran provides 90% of the funding to Hamas and 90% of the funding to Hezbollah. And they're taking out the senior leadership that are directing the missile strikes on Israel, that are directing the nuclear program. They're also taking out the nuclear scientists. I think it makes sense for the attacks to be directed at removing their ability to wage war against Israel and to wage war against America. I will tell you also, it is a dangerous time. It's a dangerous time for the people of Israel. I spoke with a friend of mine on Sunday whose mom is in Jerusalem. And he said his mom, like nobody's able to sleep because they wake up at 2 and 3 in the morning every night with air raid sirens going on and they have to rush to the bomb shelter. So I mean, it is intense when a civilian population is facing constant missile strikes and there have been significant fatalities and there may be substantially more so the people of Israel in harm's way. But Clay, also our servicemen and women, we have a large number of servicemen and women that are in the Middle east and I think it is exceptionally important. I spoke with President Trump on Sunday and I called him just to say that I thought he was doing exceptionally well and standing with Israel and his leadership was really important. And I said in particular, thank you for making unequivocally clear to Iran that if they attack and kill US Servicemen and women, that they will face very significant retaliation from the United States. I think that is protecting the lives of our servicemen and women. And that is what a strong commander in chief does. That's what what Trump is doing.

[Buck Sexton]

Senator Ted Cruz, we appreciate the time. Know how busy you are. Thanks for hopping on.

[Ted Cruz]

Thanks my friend. God bless.

[Buck Sexton]

We'll continue to take your calls. 800-282-2882. Grand Canyon University, a private Christian university in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona, believes we're endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. GCU believes in equal opportunity and the American Dream starts starts with purpose. GCU equips you to serve others in ways that promote human flourishing and create a ripple effect of transformation for generations to come. By honoring your career, calling you impact your family, your friends and your community, you can change the world for good by putting others before yourself to glorify God. Whether your pursuit involves a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, GCU's online on campus and hybrid learning environments are designed to help you achieve your unique academic, personal and professional goals. With over 340 academic programs as of September 2024, GCU meets you where you are and provides a path to help you fulfill your dreams. The pursuit to serve others is yours. Let it flourish. Find your purpose at Grand Canyon University Private Christian Affordable Visit gcu. Edu.

[Clay Travis]

You know what's great about your investment account with the big guys? It's actually a time machine. Log in and zoom. Welcome back to 1999. It's time for an upgrade [e-mail] you can invest in almost everything. Stocks, bonds, options and more. You can even put your cash to work at an industry leading 4.1% APY. Leave your clunky, outdated platform behind at public.com go to public.com and fund your account in five minutes or less. Paid for by Public Investing, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Full disclosures at public.com disclosures the Medal.

[J.R. Martinez]

Of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Unnamed Speaker]

This medal is for the men who went down that day. It's for the families of those who didn't make it.

[J.R. Martinez]

I'm J.R. martinez. I'm a U.S. army veteran myself and I'm honored to tell you the stories of these heroes on the new season of Medal of Stories of Courage from Pushkin Industries and I Heart podcast from Robert Blake, the first black sailor to be awarded the medal to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice. These are stories about people who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor going above and beyond the call of duty. You'll hear about what they did, what it meant, and what their stories tell us about the nature of courage and success, sacrifice. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Buck Sexton]

My thanks to Ted Cruz. Major decision coming from President Trump as to what he should do in Iran. Reports that he has a Cabinet meeting with all of his top advisors at 1pm Eastern in the White House, just down the road from where I am right now to potentially make a decision about whether or not to allow those bunker busting bombs to be used potentially, maybe also to decide what to do with the Ayatollah. And we will keep you updated on all of this, which may well be being determined during the course of today's program. Also, Senator Rand Paul and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr scheduled to join us in the third hour. But this upcoming hour, no guest at all. We'll dive into this story in greater detail, allow you guys to weigh in. You can also give us Talkbacks 800-282-2882. And we will continue as the President faces one of the most consequential decisions in foreign policy, maybe the most of his early tenure in term two. So we will discuss that. Break it all down for you. Appreciate all of you listening. Tough decision. Should we use our bunker busting bombs? That's a tough phrase to say on the nuclear weapons. And what about regime change? Should we be involved in that in any way? We'll continue to discuss with you all.

[Clay Travis]

You know what's great about your investment account with the big guys, it's actually a time machine. Log in and zoom. Welcome back to 1999. It's time for an upgrade. At public.com you can invest in almost everything stocks, bonds, options and more. You can even put your cash to work at an industry leading 4.1% APY. Leave your clunky, outdated platform behind at public.com go to public.com and fund your account in five minutes or less. Pay for by Public Investing, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Full disclosures at public.com disclosures the Medal.

[J.R. Martinez]

Of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Unnamed Speaker]

This medal is for the men who went down that day on Medal of.

[J.R. Martinez]

Honor Stories of Courage. You'll hear about these heroes and what their stories tell us about the nature of bravery. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Buck Sexton]

This is an iHeart podcast.