A recent vote in the House of Representatives reaffirming Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism sparked criticism after dozens of Democrats opposed the measure.
During a discussion on Fox News, anchor John Roberts referenced the vote and contrasted it with a nearly unanimous resolution passed three years earlier.
“In the house, there was a vote that was taken to reaffirm the US is view that Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world,” Roberts said.
He noted that a similar measure previously received overwhelming bipartisan support.
“When a similar vote was taken three years ago, the vote was 420 to one.”
Roberts said the latest vote produced a different outcome.
“Yesterday, 53 Democrats voted against that resolution.”
Roberts also cited comments from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise regarding the vote.
“Prompting Steve Scalise to say, quote, we just had a vote in the House to simply affirm the fact that Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism. 53 Democrats voted no by denying this basic fact, these radical Democrats are defending the murderous Iranian regime and standing against America.”
Roberts invited White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to respond to the vote.
“I want to invite you to weigh in on this, and as you do that, we’re going to put up on the screen here a scroll of all of the terror attacks that have occurred since 1979 at the behest of the Iranians. Go ahead.”
Leavitt responded by arguing that the vote reflects a shift away from a longstanding bipartisan position regarding Iran.
“Well, I couldn’t have said it better myself, nearly three years ago, in 2023 every single member of the House of Representatives, with the exception of one, voted together on this resolution condemning Iran as the world state, leading sponsor of terror,” Leavitt said.
She added that the policy has historically received broad international support.
“This is not just long standing bipartisan policy of the United States, but nearly every single country on the planet, especially Western countries, have agreed with this basic premise.”
Leavitt criticized Democrats who opposed the resolution and said their position is driven by political opposition to President Donald Trump.
“And now in 2026 you have Democrats on Capitol Hill who have been so debilitated by their derangement and their hatred for the man in the oval office right now that they cannot even condemn the world’s leading state sponsor of terror.”
She said Democrats are attempting to undermine actions taken by President Trump related to Iran.
“Why? Because they are trying desperately to try to undermine President Trump’s essential action that he took to protect the United States of America, to protect our bases and our troops in the Middle East and to ultimately ensure a more safe and prosperous world, not just in the Middle East, but across the entire globe as well.”
Leavitt said she believes the group of Democrats who opposed the measure represent a minority view.
“And that’s just 53 Democrats who have lost their minds.”
She also pointed to continued support for President Trump’s actions among lawmakers and international allies.
“But if you look at Capitol Hill, overwhelmingly across the board, and if you look abroad to countries around the world, the NATO Secretary General, even our partners in the Gulf and our Arab partners in the region, commending and thanking President Trump.”
Leavitt concluded by arguing that President Trump’s actions addressed what she described as a long-standing threat posed by Iran.
“For finally having the courage to do what so many past American presidents on both sides of the aisles did not have the courage to execute, which is to finally, once and for all end the threat posed by the rogue Iranian terrorist regime to the United States of America and to our people.”
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