The following is an interview transcript with Democrat Sen Jean Shaheen of New Hampshire, aired on 24 August, 2025 on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brainon”.
Margaret Brainon: And we are now back with the top democrats in the Foreign Relations Committee, New Hampshire Senator Jean Shaheen. She involves us from Amman, Jordan. Good morning, senator. I know that we have a little delay here, so I will launch the right.
Sen Jean Shaheen: Good morning, or, afternoon here.
Margaret Brainan: Yes, of course. You also sit on the Armed Service Committee. Here in Washington, on Friday we learned that there was a sudden round of firing. Defense Intelligence Agency was the head of Lieutenant General Jeffrey Cruus. They were rejected, the Pentagon did not explain why. In addition, the Navy Reserve Head, Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore was fired. The Navy Seal, which oversees the Navy Special War Command, Rear Admiral Milton Sands, was rejected. Has the Congress been informed that why these leaders are being fired by Secretary Hegseth?
Sen Shaheen: I do not know that the Congress has been informed about any of these firing, and they come on the heels of firing earlier this year, the president of the joint heads, heads of Navy operations, a series of Admiral Frenchy and other military leaders. And this is unfortunate, because one of the things, one of the strength of the US Army, is a professional military leader who has come through ranks, who have training, expertise, who are able to do jobs. And those who do not want there are political people in those jobs, who are not going to assess the military situation wherever we are. So it is very disturbing.
Margaret Brainon: I believe that our feed is only frozen there, and we are going to try to get it back, if we can. The Senator is involving us from Amman, Jordan. So I am going to take a break by re -establishing that connection.
Sen shaheen: The feed just froze.
(Announcement)
Margaret Brainon: And we are now back with Senator Jean Shaheen, who include us in remote from Amman, Jordan. We have lost you there, but we are happy that you are now back with us, senators. I ask you why you are in the Middle East right now. We heard on Friday, it is supported by internationally recognized body, United Nations, IPC. It tracks hunger. And he confirmed, technically confirmed, a man -made famine is going on in Gaza. This is a very rare designation, only four other times nominated. The country you are in, Jordan called it “shameful failure of humanity”, which Israel Palestinians are hungry by plot, called it a war crime. Would you say that a three -month blockade by Israel of Gaza is a war crime?
Sen Shaheen: I think it is a shameful black mark on humanity that the world has allowed this to happen and that Israel is allowing it to happen. We had a very good meeting with Raja Abdullah of Jordan today, and one of the places where we visited, Jordan is a humanitarian aid program that is trying to help in Gaza. This is one- it is funded trucks and warehouses and foods that the United States has contributed as part of this administration. They are trying to get into 150 trucks a day in Israel. And Israel has prevented trucks from leaving in a way that will provide nutrition that is required to prevent starvation to Ghazan. this is unacceptable. Prime Minister Netanyahu is the point that is being interrupted. He needs to see what he is doing and changing his position.
Margaret Brainon: The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Friday made a very rigorous statement about the designation of famine. He said, quotes, “a modern blood complaint spreads like wildfire through prejudice.” It suggests that it is about anti -Jew hatred rather than starvation. How do you make an understanding of protecting Israel?
Sen Shaheen: I don’t think it’s a good rescue. The fact is that, it is not about antismitism, which I hate, and the situation in the United States is against Antismitism, and we need to do everything to stop it. But the reality is that, people near us are dying because they are systematically killing, as Israel refuses to allow humanitarian aid that people need to keep alive. Not only this, they are getting ready to another- or, they have already started, planning another major avatar in Gaza who are going to kill more people. So it is not acceptable. The world needs to speak. I think it is very important that we allow that human help, people who are dying of hunger.
Margaret Brainon: I- I understand your criticism right now. I want to ask you a little bit, although about the US policy, as it has also been a problem during the Biden administration. In fact, President Biden Joe-Zon Finner was written a piece of former Deputy National Security Advisor, just a piece of Atlantic, and said that when he stands by the decision to embrace Israel after October 7, he believes that “we have done much, it is actually too late to limit the horrific citizens.” Do you agree with him, and do you want you to talk more forcefully?
Sen Shaheen: I don’t think this is a partial situation. I am with me from South Carolina on this visit to Jordan. He agreed with me that we needed to ensure that those humanitarian aid trucks get in Israel. We need to make every effort to ensure that the Prime Minister Netanyahu is preventing the obstacles that are preventing human aid from going inside. I think it’s something like this, I hope that both Democrats and Republicans can embrace.
Margaret Brainon: But- But do you agree with this self-criticism by this major Democrat? Do you think the Democrats should have said more soon-
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Sen Shaheen: We should do more and we should do more. Absolutely.
Margaret Brainan: Yes. I also want to ask you-
Sen Shaheen: I think everyone-
Margaret Brainan: Go ahead.
Sen shaheen: -Shld has said more soon, not only Democrats, but Republican.
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Margaret Brainon: Why are you now?
Sen Shaheen: We today had an opportunity to meet with the Jordanis who are working very hard to get human help in Gaza, who are being stimped in that attempt by bureaucracy obstacles. When it takes hours to scan a truck, which can be done in two to three, and when this helps to spend hundreds of dollars per truck, it removes the aid, and they remove those trucks, and when they come back the next day, there are another hundreds of dollars for the same truck when they stop at the border. This is not a valid effort to get human help to the people of Gaza who are dying of hunger. And it can be changed. All this Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “We are going to allow that help.”
Margaret Brainon: Senator Jean Shaheen involves us from Amman, Jordan. The delay bit there. We will come back right.
