Massie Says Iran War Weakened U.S. After 172 Million-Barrel Oil Reserve Release

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 27

Rep. Thomas Massie said Sunday the Iran war had “significantly weakened” the United States, arguing the conflict depleted defenses, raised consumer prices, increased debt and cost American lives “all for Israel.”
172 million barrels have been released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, while heavy demand for U.S. missile-defense systems and billions of dollars in added defense funding have underscored some of the resource strains he cited.
Massie’s broad claim that the U.S. is weaker remains a political judgment, and the White House did not immediately comment after Fox News Digital sought a response early Monday.
The criticism adds to a widening split on the right: Massie lost his May primary to a Trump-backed challenger, and former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent has urged Trump to pull U.S. forces from the region.
The Trump administration still says the campaign was needed to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, curb its proxies and secure an agreement to block a nuclear weapon and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.