The following is the transcript of the interview with Sen. Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on May 10, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Arizona. Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, who joins us this morning from Austin, Texas, Welcome back to Face The Nation.
SEN. MARK KELLY: Good to be on Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, CBS has reported that the cost of the Iran war is at least $50 billion I know you have been pressing the Pentagon on defining just how many of our munitions have been used up in the course of this conflict to date. You said you’ve been worried about how the US would hold up in a conflict with China because of all of this. Have you gotten an answer on how depleted us munitions are?
SEN. KELLY: Yes, Margaret, we we have, we’ve been tracking it a number of times. We’ve been briefed by the Pentagon on specific munitions. Actually, it’s been pretty detailed on Tomahawks, ATACMS, SM-3, THAAD rounds, Patriot rounds, so those interceptor rounds to defend ourselves. And the numbers are, I think it’s fair to say it’s shocking the how deep we have gone into these magazines, because this president got our country into this without a strategic goal, without a plan, without a timeline, and because of that, we’ve expended a lot of munitions, and that means the American people are less safe, whether it’s a conflict in the western Pacific with China or somewhere else in the world, the munitions are depleted. You may have seen me ask the Secretary of Defense this question about how long it’s going to take to replenish. We’re talking about years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you know, Admiral Paparo, the head of US Pacific Command, was recently asked in front of Congress about American readiness and whether the diversion to the Middle East was hurting it. He said he did not see any real cost on our ability to deter China. From what you have heard when you say it’s shocking, do you think that the U.S. would be able to defend, for example, Taiwan, if China tries to move against it? Or are you saying we are not in a position to do that right now?
SEN. KELLY: Well, it all depends on the length of a conflict. You know, conflict that lasts a matter of days or just weeks, I think we’re well positioned to do that. If a conflict goes on for months or years, when it takes years to replenish some of these munitions. Of course, we’re going to be in a worse posture than we otherwise would be in if this war in Iran didn’t happen. And by the way, Margaret, what are the American people getting out of this? This president said he wasn’t going to start any new wars. He was going to bring down costs. He’s done exactly the opposite. War against Iran. Costs on everything are up.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that is true. Of course know their argument that this was an inevitable conflict in some ways. But when it comes to making America ready to defend our allies and ourselves, does what you describe…
Read More: Transcript: Sen. Mark Kelly on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” May
