President Donald Trump looks at military conflict as "the last possible option" Rep. Lee Zeldin said Monday, and he believes the president's often-strong words are meant as a deterrent and to show he's willing to use force if it's necessary against nations like Iran and North Korea.
"Just like the situation in 2017 with North Koreans...whether Iran or anybody else, if you attack the United States, you will be met with 'fire and fury,'" the New York Republican told Fox News' Harris Faulkner on "Outnumbered Overtime."
Zeldin, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that when Trump briefs House members on Tuesday about the Iran situation, it will be vital to learn more about a rocket that landed within a mile of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad Sunday, and about any other threats or intelligence that exists that may require action.
Zeldin said he's had several conversations with Trump on foreign policy and Iran, North Korea and more, and noted that Trump will often bring in lawmakers from either party to hear information he uses to inform his decisions.
Also on Monday, Zeldin defended Trump against critics that he may be relying too much on the opinion of National Security Adviser John Bolton, who has often spoken out against Iran.
"At the end of the day, President Trump is commander-in-chief and he makes the decision. Ambassador Bolton respects that."
Zeldin added, though, that it will be "fantastic" to have Bolton in Tuesday's briefings.
"He is someone, off the top of his head if he needed to, he could write a 2,500-page encyclopedia about Iran."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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