Atrocities in Iran Remind Us what American Strength Preserves

Dear Gloria,

Last week in the Washington Times, I addressed the heartbreaking tragedy unfolding in Iran and the brutal reality of a regime that answers peaceful dissent with bullets and prison cells. For 47 years, since 1979, Iran’s rulers have exported terror, fueled instability across the Middle East, and oppressed their own people with impunity.

I also wrote about a truth history has proven time and again: peace is not preserved by weakness. President Donald Trump understood that deterrence, strength, and consequences are what tyrants respect. “Peace through strength” is not a slogan — it is a doctrine grounded in reality.

The suffering in Iran is a sobering reminder of what we must never take for granted here at home. As Benjamin Franklin famously warned in 1789, “A republic, madam — if you can keep it.” More than two centuries later, that responsibility still rests with us.

America remains a beacon of liberty not because we are perfect, but because we are free. That freedom endures only if we defend our Constitution, uphold the rule of law, secure our borders, and preserve the principles that sustain this grand experiment in self-government.

We should pray for the Iranian people, condemn their oppressors without hesitation, and recommit ourselves to protecting the fragile, extraordinary blessings of freedom. 

Read my full Op-Ed HERE.

Last week, I shared an update on the SAVE America Act — and I’m proud to report that the House has now passed this critical legislation. The bill strengthens election integrity by requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship, reinforcing safeguards that help ensure only eligible citizens participate in our elections.

This is an important step toward restoring confidence in our democratic process. Now, it is up to the Senate to act and send this legislation to the President’s desk. Fair, secure, and transparent elections are fundamental to our republic, and I will continue fighting to protect them.