During remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) spoke about President Trump's nominee for Israel ambassador, Mike Huckabee.
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NewsTranscript
00:00I ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be vitiated.
00:03Without objection.
00:04Thank you, Mr. President.
00:04Mr. President, I'm delighted that today the United States Senate is going to confirm
00:08Governor Mike Huckabee to be our U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
00:13Governor Huckabee is a fierce friend to one of our closest allies.
00:17He's the right leader to have this very important job.
00:21This is a man who has visited Israel more than 100 times.
00:26He knows its people.
00:27He knows its purpose.
00:28He knows its potential.
00:30He also knows its promise.
00:32That is why I am sure that he will receive bipartisan support today.
00:37His confirmation will strengthen the unbreakable bond between America and Israel.
00:41It is a bond that is stronger than ever under President Trump.
00:46Security is a backbone of our special relationship, and shared values are our moral bedrock.
00:52Liberty, faith, and opportunity, those are our shared beliefs.
00:57That's why America has always supported Israel.
01:01Historically, 1948, America recognized the creation of Israel 11 minutes after its birth.
01:07America was the first nation to recognize a free and democratic Jewish state.
01:12We've stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Israel ever since.
01:17President Trump's record is proof of America's unwavering support.
01:24His first term delivered historic progress.
01:27He forged the Abrams Accords, shattered decades of deadlock to bring peace and prosperity to the Middle East.
01:35He moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as promised, which is Israel's eternal capital.
01:43President Trump recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
01:48He stood firm against Iran.
01:51The nomination and confirmation of Governor Huckabee improves on a stellar record.
01:57Today, the threats facing the United States and Israel are growing, menacing.
02:02Iran is racing to nuclear weapons.
02:07Iran's hired henchmen attacked Israel from all sides.
02:10Hamas continues to wage war against Israel, and it continues to hold innocent hostages captive.
02:20The Houthis in Yemen are launching drone attacks against Israel.
02:23Israel's right to defend itself is not up for debate.
02:27America's security assistance to Israel is not a handout.
02:32It is necessary to keep Israel safe, and it is necessary to stop terrorism.
02:38Republicans understand that we back Israel unequivocally.
02:43Yet Democrats in this body are wavering.
02:47Last week, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont tried to cancel $8.8 billion in weapons transfers to Israel.
02:53He failed.
02:55Every Republican voted with Israel, but 15 Democrats voted against Israel.
03:00This isn't the first time this year that Senate Democrats have stood against Israel.
03:04Today, there is a loud pro-Hamas fringe, and they're trying to hijack the Democrat Party.
03:12It isn't just happening in the Senate.
03:14It's happening around the country.
03:15It's happening by campus radicals on our nation's college campuses.
03:20It's worse than bad politics.
03:21This is dangerous policy.
03:24We're at inflection point in history.
03:27Hamas launched a brutal attack against Israel on October 7th of 2023.
03:31It was the deadliest single-day attack against the people of Israel and the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
03:38Israel continues to fight for its safety and its survival.
03:43Faced with this reality, Democrats still are abandoning Israel.
03:48And that puts both Israel and America at risk.
03:51Here are the facts.
03:53Israel's democracy.
03:54Hamas terrorists are butchers.
03:56Israel shields its citizens.
03:59Hamas uses its citizens as human shields.
04:03Israel sends food to Gaza.
04:05Hamas steals the food and starves the people.
04:10That's why the Palestinian people are protesting against Hamas.
04:14Hamas faces the most serious challenge to its rule in 18 years.
04:19Israel fights terror.
04:21It has every right to defend itself.
04:23America has chosen a side.
04:26We stand with Israel.
04:28Our support is unwavering.
04:29It is unbreakable.
04:31No apologies made.
04:33Peace in the Middle East starts with supporting Israel, not appeasing our adversaries.
04:39Now, the roadblock to peace continues to be Iran.
04:43President Trump is restoring maximum pressure on the Iranian regime.
04:47President Trump is choking off Iran's oil sales with strong sanctions.
04:54President Trump is hammering the Houthis, the terrorists, who attack our troops.
05:00President Trump has reversed Joe Biden's foolish arms embargo on Israel.
05:04This is going to help Israel win the war, and it will help bring home the hostages.
05:09President Trump is slapping down sham kangaroo courts that target Israel simply for defending itself.
05:16This is leadership.
05:17This is moral clarity.
05:19The Senate is moving to confirm Governor Huckabee in spite of Democrat efforts to slow it down.
05:24We are right to do that, Mr. President.
05:28America and Israel share urgent challenges.
05:31We also share a sacred cause.
05:34Governor Huckabee is the right man at the right time with the right values to carry forward that cause.
05:41Thank you, Mr. President.
05:42I yield the floor.