Transcript: Rep. Dan Crenshaw on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” March 15, 2026

The following is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Dan Crenshaw, Republican of Texas, aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on March 15, 2026.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We now go to Texas Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw, who joins us from Houston. Welcome back to Face the Nation. In a previous life you were a Navy SEAL. So to get into your experience a little bit here, when you see that President Trump is sending a few thousand marines in the expeditionary force to join the 50,000 troops that we have there, what does that show?

REP. DAN CRENSHAW: I think it shows that there is a seriousness to support any emergency operation that may be required. I don’t think- People should take that as boots on the ground, especially with only 5,000 troops. These types of units are, you know, they can transport American citizens to the Gulf states. They can be many things. Therefore, I consider it important to commit to this situation, which is exactly what is needed. If you’re going to do this, which we did, you need to see it right. That is what I will be advising the president. I will be advising the president to take the Straits of Hormuz seriously. This is something we practice every year. That’s why he asked our allies to help us, protect us, because we do this as an exercise every year with 30 nations. So, I think he is doing what is needed.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Secretary Hegseth said earlier this month, Operation Epic Fury would not, quote, no foolproof rules of engagement. Two days later, he said, we beat them down, as it should be. This Friday, he said, there is no quarter, no mercy for our enemies. He served in uniform. Do you have any concerns that this kind of language sends the wrong message to our forces that are bound by the values ​​of equality or that it might offend our soldiers?

REP. CRENSHAW: No, if you fought in these wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, you would be familiar with the bad rules of engagement. You know the kind of thing that says, look, you can’t shoot unless you get shot. What he means is that we are looking at the Iranian military without quarter. That’s what he says. To put it very clearly in our military, that is to say, what is clear is that our soldiers have been lacking in many of these conflicts in the past.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So even though there are no troops on the ground at this time, do you think that this–

REP. CRENSHAW: –I can’t–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –can you hear me?

REP. CRENSHAW: I can.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, so you don’t see that as sending the wrong signal to our forces or if it would inflame the enemy that, if there’s a soldier on the ground or a pilot downed, for example, that they’re going to be mistreated?

REP. CRENSHAW: No, no, not really. The rules of engagement will be very clear and in place and written for our soldiers. You mean that to Americans, don’t you? So there is, there is- there is a military language that our soldiers follow, which will be very clear. I don’t think it sends any wrong message. I think, I think it sends the right message. And, yes, my experience in the military. I know what that means.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, the last time you were with us, we talked – you felt the need for moral clarification. That was a phrase you used for some in your group, especially about anti-Semitism in this country. I want to read to you a few things that some Republican lawmakers have said this week. Andy Ogles of Tennessee said that America is a product of the English Christian culture. Muslims do not exist in American society. Randy Fine of Florida said we need more Islamophobia, not less. The fear of Islam is reasonable. And Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama posted a photo of the 9/11 attacks next to the mayor of New York City at a dinner breaking his Ramadan fast with the words the enemy is within the gates. What do you think about this language, and should Republican leaders talk about it?

REP. CRENSHAW: I still think it’s too small. I mean, the truth of the matter is, radical Islam is bad, right? We always knew that. That shouldn’t be- that shouldn’t be a contradictory statement at all. There are many peaceful Muslims–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –But that’s not what they’re saying.–

REP. CRENSHAW: — who live among us– I can see that. But, you know, that’s not the norm- that’s not the norm at any time. I think trying to fight it inside will probably give it more, more air than it needs. We’ve seen that it’s like you know, there’s-there’s-there’s-there’s a Republican conflict going on right now about Israel and issues of antisemitism, so, you know, one could make the argument that speaking out against it has only fueled it. So, look, I still think that’s very challenging. I don’t think that’s – it’s definitely not a management position. And like, we’re going to go after radical Islam, that’s why we need to fund agencies like DHS, and that’s what we’re going to do.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You talked about this culture of misinformation that we live in, and you identified that as one of the factors in your recent major losses. What lessons should other Republicans take from that? What do you mean?

REP. CRENSHAW: Well, I mean, I’m a different Republican, you know, I’ve been the target of cyber-stalking and conspiracies for a very long time. My election was a product of that. You know, first of all, you’ve got about 20% of the Republican electorate even bothering to vote in the primary, and then you’ve got a lot of online smears and conspiracies where people were going into the polls really believing, I mean, I believe I was worth millions- I believe that was worth millions of dollars from insider trading. It doesn’t matter how many times we think we’ve dismissed that, or that-or that-or that other people and influences and whatnot, all these things, people still come in believing in it. And so the lesson you have to learn is, you have to get the truth out. You have to try it. But ultimately, this is a question for the American people. Are you going to believe everything you read on the Internet or sent to your email? I mean, the Democrats spent almost a million dollars pushing this crap on TV. So Republican voters will go to the polls believing what a Democrat told them on TV based on a slanderous article written by a liberal reporter in DC. So that’s the lesson, and it’s not just for Republican politicians. It’s a lesson for Republican voters.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Misinformation. Congress, we appreciate your time today. We will be right back.