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

The following is the transcript of an interview with Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 26, 2026.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to Republican Senator John Kennedy, who joins us this morning from Madisonville, Louisiana. Senator, it's good to have you on the program. I've- I've got a lot to--

MARGARET BRENNAN: -- get to with you. Let me just button up where I left it with Ambassador Waltz, if I could, because that Saudi civil nuclear deal he was just discussing-it's got to go to you. It's got to go to Congress for approval. Are you comfortable with it?

SEN. KENNEDY: No. Maybe some someday, but not right now. We're bombing a country to keep them from getting a nuclear weapon, but we're signing a deal with another country, I know it's a commercial agreement, but that the world perceives as possibly someday leading to a nuclear weapon. The world's on a hair trigger. The world looks at what's going on in- in Ukraine, the Middle East. The world looks at America's relationship now with Europe. People are scared. That's why I say hair trigger. And if you're running Japan, or South Korea, or Australia, or Brazil, or some countries in Europe, you're at least thinking about the need to acquire a nuclear weapon, and then you see this deal with Saudi Arabia, and it's just not good timing. I think someday it might be. I don't think it's going to happen anyway because the president's conditioned it on Iran- on Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel, and they're not- they're not going to do that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the Saudis said they'd be willing to, but they want a pathway for the Palestinians. The Israeli politics of the moment don't make that sound--

SEN. KENNEDY: -- I know. And- and the president's going to say- the president's going to point out correctly that we've got 26 of these one-two-three agreements with other countries.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. It got a lot of attention this week. You were pretty sharp in your questioning there of the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when he asked for $67 billion in funding for the Iran War. You said, just like our poll shows, you need more information. Did you get an agreement that you will be provided the classified, detailed briefing that you say is necessary?

SEN. KENNEDY: I'm having breakfast next Wednesday with General Caine. I've seen the poll. It looks about right. I support the president in Iran. We all need to do a better job messaging. I may end up with a sombrero on my head by saying this, but we all know the president. He- he exists