Following the capture of 10 US sailors in the custody of the Iranian regime IRGC, House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement that he was “closely monitoring the situation,” and Republican Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner suggested on Tuesday Jan. 12 to Tapper on CNN that the President delay the start of the speech.
“I think the White House needs to be honest and transparent as quickly as possible with the members of the Congress, the House and the Senate,” Gardner said before the address began.
The issue quickly became a discussion topic on the 2016 campaign trail.
GOP front-runner Donald Trump, speaking at a campaign rally in Cedar Falls, Iowa, said the incident highlighted that the U.S. “isn’t the same country.”
“It’s just an indication of where the hell we’re going,” Trump said. “I mean, hopefully, they get released and fast. But it seems to be an indication of where we’re going.”
And former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush tweeted: “If our sailors aren’t coming home yet, they need to be now. No more bargaining. Obama’s humiliatingly weak Iran policy is exposed again.”
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also joined in the Obama-bashing. “This is the latest manifestation of the weakness of Barack Obama, that every bad actor … views Obama as a laughingstock,” he said.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum demanded the sailors’ immediate return.
“WH says our sailors are being given courtesies? This is feckless. WH is endangering our troops. Demand their return NOW!” he tweeted.