Transcript: Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 26, 2026 - CBS News

What the report says

CBS News published a transcript of Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy’s July 26, 2026, appearance on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” conducted while Kennedy was in Madisonville, Louisiana. The interview focused on foreign policy, war powers, sanctions and the Senate’s pre-recess agenda.

Kennedy said he was not currently comfortable with a proposed Saudi civil nuclear agreement that would come before Congress, arguing the timing was poor amid global anxiety over Ukraine, the Middle East and nuclear proliferation. He said the deal was unlikely to advance because President Trump had tied it to Saudi recognition of Israel, which Kennedy suggested was not imminent.

On Iran, Kennedy said he supported Trump but wanted more detailed information after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought $67 billion connected to the war. He said he planned to meet with Gen. Caine and urged senior officials, including Marco Rubio, John Ratcliffe, Hegseth and Caine, to better explain U.S. goals. Kennedy backed continuing sanctions, an oil blockade and some military pressure, while saying he did not favor sending U.S. ground troops.

Kennedy also said the Senate should consider adding Iran to a Russian oil sanctions bill associated with the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, move a House budget resolution, take up cryptocurrency market-structure legislation and revisit the SAVE Act. On elections, he argued voters should prove identity and that the country should return to a shorter voting period, while suggesting grants or other mechanisms could be used to encourage states to change procedures.