Chris Pappas says Iran conflict changed his view on weapons sales to Israel | CloseUp
MEETS ITS DEMISE IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE SENATE. GOOD MORNING, I’M ADAM SEXTON. THE RACE FOR U.S. SENATE CONGRESSMAN CHRIS PAPPAS IS BUILDING A LARGE CASH ADVANTAGE IN FUNDRAISING, BUT POLLS INDICATE IF HE’S MATCHED UP AGAINST FORMER SENATOR JOHN SUNUNU IN NOVEMBER, HE COULD NEED EVERY PENNY AND MORE TO HELP HIM EMERGE VICTORIOUS. THE CONGRESSMAN IS OUR GUEST THIS MORNING. REPRESENTATIVE. THANKS FOR COMING IN. GOOD MORNING ADAM. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. SO AS JUST NOTED, YOU ARE SETTING THE PACE ON FUNDRAISING AND YOU’VE NOTCHED A LOT OF WINS OVER THE YEARS. BUT IF THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IS SENATOR SUNUNU, THAT’S FAR AND AWAY THE MOST FORMIDABLE OPPONENT YOU’VE EVER FACED. PROBABLY. SO HOW WORRIED ARE YOU THAT A SWING OF JUST A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS IN LATE OCTOBER COULD MEAN YOU LOSE IN THIS CASE? WELL, LOOK, THIS IS NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS IS A COMPETITIVE STATE, AND THAT’S A GOOD THING. THAT MEANS THAT YOU’RE OUT THERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS THAT VOTERS ARE ULTIMATELY THE ONES WHO ARE IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT. SO WE’RE BUILDING A STRONG CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THE STAKES ARE INCREDIBLY HIGH RIGHT NOW. WE NEED SOMEONE WHO’S GOING TO STAND UP AND PUT NEW HAMPSHIRE FIRST, WHO’S GOING TO PUSH BACK AGAINST A RECKLESS PRESIDENT THAT DOESN’T HAVE NEW HAMPSHIRE’S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART. AND WE NEED TO FIGHT TO CREATE A FAIRER ECONOMY, TO LOWER COSTS, TO SUPPORT THINGS LIKE HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE AND CHILD CARE THAT I’M HEARING ABOUT ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. SO WE’RE BUILDING AN EFFORT THAT’S AUTHENTIC, THAT’S BASED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMUNITIES AND IN OUR STATE’S VALUES. THAT’S THE WORK THAT I’VE DONE OVER THE LAST FOUR TERMS IN CONGRESS, STANDING UP FOR WHAT’S RIGHT, PUSHING BACK AGAINST MY PARTY WHEN THEY’RE WRONG, WORKING TO GET THINGS DONE. AND WE NEED THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP MOVING FORWARD. SO THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO BE A HARD FOUGHT CONTEST. WHAT IS OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD. I’M JUST GOING TO SAY THERE’S A LOT OF OUTSIDE INTEREST IN THIS RACE. WE’VE ALREADY SEEN THE KOCH BROTHERS SPEND ABOUT $1 MILLION TO PROP UP JOHN SUNUNU, THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATE SUPER PAC, HAS RESERVED ABOUT $17 MILLION WORTH OF ADS FOR THE FALL ALREADY TO SUPPORT HIM AND TO ATTACK US. SO THE FACT IS WITH ALL THIS OUTSIDE SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY COMING INTO NEW HAMPSHIRE, WE GOT TO DO A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT. WE GOT TO HAVE AUTHENTIC CONVERSATIONS. I GOT TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE VOTERS OF THIS, OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SHOW THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE. WE CAN STAND UP TO THIS PRESIDENT. WE CAN MOVE NEW HAMPSHIRE FORWARD. THAT’S THE CORE OF WHAT THIS CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT. WHAT IS THE CASE YOU WOULD MAKE AGAINST SENATOR SUNUNU? BECAUSE WE’VE SEEN OVER THE LAST DECADE THERE IS A DECISIVE CHUNK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS WHO SEE THAT SUNUNU POLITICAL BRAND AS SEPARATE FROM PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. WELL, HE’S BEEN THERE BEFORE, RIGHT? HE WAS DEFEATED BY VOTERS IN 2008 BECAUSE HE WAS DOWN THE LINE FOR AN UNPOPULAR REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT. HE SUPPORTED FOREVER WARS. HE SUPPORTED PRIVATIZING SOCIAL SECURITY. HE’S AGAINST A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE. AND HE WAS VERY MUCH JOINED AT THE HIP WITH THE CORPORATE SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT RUN WASHINGTON, D.C. HE SPENT THE LAST 18 YEARS AS PART OF THAT REVOLVING DOOR THAT EVERYONE HATES ABOUT WASHINGTON. SO HE WOULD POTENTIALLY COME BACK INTO THE SENATE WITH ALL SORTS OF NEW CONFLICTS AND RELATIONSHIPS ON THE OUTSIDE THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR US TO LOWER THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, TO HOLD BIG OIL TO ACCOUNT, TO HOLD THE LINE AGAINST CORPORATE POWER IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND GET THINGS DONE. SO I THINK THE ANSWER FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE RIGHT NOW ISN’T TO GO BACK TO A FAILED CANDIDATE OR FAILED IDEAS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN REJECTED. IT’S ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THE KIND OF FUTURE THAT WE CAN CREATE, HOW WE CAN COME TOGETHER, STAND UP TO DONALD TRUMP WHERE HE’S WRONG, FIGHT FOR HEALTH CARE, FIGHT FOR HOUSING, FIGHT TO LOWER COSTS FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILIES, FIGHT TO GET THINGS DONE. THAT’S THE KIND OF FUTURE THAT I WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS NEW BUSINESS. BEFORE HE ENTERED CONGRESS IN THE 90S, AND AS YOU NOTED, HE RETURNED TO BUSINESS AND DID QUITE WELL AFTER LEAVING THE SENATE. IT SOUNDS LIKE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON THE MERITS, YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE THAT A BIG ISSUE COME NOVEMBER. WELL, THAT WAS THE CASE WHEN HE WAS IN CONGRESS. HE WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THE BAILOUT OF WALL STREET. THEN HE LEFT CONGRESS AND GOT ON THE BOARD OF SOME OF THOSE FIRMS THAT BENEFITED FROM THE BAILOUT THAT HE SUPPORTED. THIS IS ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILIES. AND WHAT I’M HEARING ALL ACROSS THE STATE IS PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS AND WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. THEY KNOW DONALD TRUMP IS TAKING US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. THE WAR IN IRAN THAT IS JEOPARDIZING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND RAISING PRICES AT THE PUMP, THE HEALTH CARE CUTS THAT ARE JEOPARDIZING THE ABILITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILIES TO GET THE CARE THAT THEY NEED AND IS RAISING EVERYBODY’S PREMIUMS. JOHN SUNUNU STANDS WITH DONALD TRUMP. HE SUPPORTS THESE POLICIES. WE NEED SOMEONE WHO’S GOING TO PUT NEW HAMPSHIRE FIRST. NOW, YOUR NET WORTH, NET WORTH HAS INCREASED DURING YOUR TIME IN CONGRESS, BUT NOT BY MUCH. YOU’RE IN THE LOW MILLIONS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS THERE. YOU COME FROM A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS FAMILY. BUT AS YOU TRY TO SET A HIGH BAR ON ETHICAL STANDARDS AND CAPITOL HILL AND FOR CONGRESS TO. WHAT STANDARD DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD HOLD YOU? THAT IS. WHAT ASSURANCES CAN YOU PROVIDE US THAT AS YOU SIT HERE NOW AS A MILLIONAIRE, THAT IF YOU’RE SUCCESSFUL ELECTORALLY, YOU KNOW THAT YOU’RE NOT BACK HERE IN 12 YEARS WITH 20 OR $30 MILLION BEHIND YOUR NAME BECAUSE THAT SEEMS WHAT HAPPENS. WHAT HAPPENS FOR EVERY ONE OF THESE SENATORS. THEY GO IN WEALTHY AND THEY GET EVEN WEALTHIER WHEN THEY’RE THERE. YEAH. WELL LOOK I’M A NEW HAMPSHIRE GUY. I’VE LIVED IN THE SAME ONE MILE RADIUS IN MANCHESTER MY ENTIRE LIFE. AND THIS IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE MY HOME. I’M PROUD OF THE SMALL BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE HERE THAT HAS CREATED JOBS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST CENTURY. AND SO THAT’S WHAT SHAPES MY WORLDVIEW AND HOW I OPERATE IN WASHINGTON. AND I’VE BEEN A VOICE FOR REFORM, FOR CHANGING THE WAY THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS IN WASHINGTON. IT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. IT’S BROKEN. WE’VE GOT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT ARE LITERALLY TRADING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF STOCK ANY GIVEN YEAR PARTICIPATING IN THESE PREDICTION MARKETS BASED ON INSIDE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE. WE’VE GOT TO BAN THOSE PRACTICES, AND I’M WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE TO GET THAT DONE. WE’VE GOT TO STAND UP TO AN ADMINISTRATION WHERE THE CORRUPTION AND GRIFT IS RIGHT OUT IN THE OPEN AND INSIST ON TOUGHER ETHICAL STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND WE’VE GOT TO GET BIG MONEY OUT OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I’VE FOUGHT FOR MY ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREER, AND I THINK WE NEED TO APPLY SOME NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMON SENSE TO THE PROBLEMS WE SEE GOING ON IN WASHINGTON. LET’S TURN TO IRAN. DO YOU THINK THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY, IF IT ARISES SOMEHOW TO, YOU KNOW, LAUNCH ANOTHER STRIKE AND PERHAPS TOPPLE THIS REGIME AND FINISH THE JOB, IF YOU WILL? OR DOES THIS NEED TO END NOW? WELL, WE SAW THAT IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THIS OPERATION. THE PRESIDENT DID NOT LEVEL WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. HE DID NOT PUT PLANS IN PLACE THAT HE SHARED WITH CONGRESS OR WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO KEEP OUR SERVICE MEMBERS SAFE AND WHAT OBJECTIVES WE WERE TRYING TO PURSUE. AND SO THERE’S ONE AYATOLLAH THAT HAS REPLACED ANOTHER. THEY STILL HARBOR NUCLEAR AMBITIONS AND A BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAM. THEY NOW CONTROL TRAFFIC THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IN A WAY THAT PUTS THEIR THUMB ON THE GLOBAL ENERGY MARKETS AND IS RAISING COSTS FOR AMERICANS BACK HOME. SO I’M NOT SURE WHAT WE HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THIS WAR. THE PRESIDENT HASN’T BEEN HONEST. AND WE’RE REACHING THIS 60 DAY WINDOW THAT IS GOVERNED BY THE WAR POWERS ACT. THAT SHOULD SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS NO AUTHORIZATION BEYOND THAT POINT TO CONTINUE THESE MILITARY OPERATIONS. I THINK WE’VE GOT TO BRING IT TO A CLOSE. WE’VE GOT TO GET OUR SERVICE MEMBERS OUT OF HARM’S WAY. WE CAN CONTINUE TO HOLD IRAN TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR MALIGN INFLUENCE THAT THEY HAVE IN THE REGION. WE SHOULD BE WORKING. BUT TO TOUGHEN SANCTIONS AND WORKING WITH ALLIES AND PARTNERS IN THE REGION THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS TO KEEP A LID ON THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAM, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THAT. BUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DELIVERED IS A WAR OF CHOICE, WITH NO PLAN FOR HOW TO WIN IT OR CONCLUDE IT. AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE DON’T SUPPORT AN OPEN ENDED COMMITMENT LIKE THAT. WHEN YOU WERE HERE IN AUGUST, AND THAT’S EONS AGO, POLITICALLY, I GUESS, AND DEVELOPMENTS IN WASHINGTON. BUT YOU SAID YOU DIDN’T THINK IT WAS PRODUCTIVE TO VOTE AGAINST, YOU KNOW, ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL OR ANY OF THESE RESOLUTIONS THAT POP UP. JUST EARLIER THIS MONTH, SENATOR SHAHEEN AND HASSAN VOTED FOR BERNIE SANDERS RESOLUTION THAT WOULD HAVE LIMITED CERTAIN ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL. IF YOU WERE IN THAT SAME POSITION, WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED YES ON THE RESOLUTION NOW? YES. I THINK SENATOR SHAHEEN AND SENATOR HASSAN GOT IT RIGHT WITH THAT VOTE. THAT WAS VERY MUCH INTERTWINED WITH THE U.S. WAR EFFORT. AND CONTINUED SALES WOULD, I THINK, PROLONG A CONFLICT THAT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. AND EVERY VOTE LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE TO APPROACH FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT’S BEST FOR THE UNITED STATES, WHAT’S BEST FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS. AND I HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING HOW ADDITIONAL SALES, YOU KNOW, OF BULLDOZERS AND 1,000 POUND BOMBS IS GOING TO BRING THIS WAR TO A CONCLUSION AND ALLOW US TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS IN THE REGION. BUT WHAT CHANGED IN YOUR THINKING IN EIGHT MONTHS FROM PREVIOUSLY SAYING JUST A WASTE OF TIME? WELL, DONALD TRUMP AND PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU HAVE LAUNCHED A WAR AGAINST IRAN. THAT’S PLAINLY WHAT HAS CHANGED. I AM A SUPPORTER OF THE U.S. ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO LEAN INTO OUR ALLIANCES. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUDING RELIEF FOR PALESTINIANS, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ON A PATH TO A TWO STATE SOLUTION. AND SELF-DETERMINATION. I’VE LONG SUPPORTED THAT, BUT IN THIS CASE, THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING AMERICA’S NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS, MAKING SURE OUR TROOPS ARE OUT OF HARM’S WAY, AND TRYING TO BRING THIS WAR TO A CLOSE THAT ISN’T ACCOMPLISHING ANY MEANINGFUL OBJECTIVES FOR THE UNITED STATES. LET’S TURN TO AN ISSUE WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IN 22 AND 24, BUT NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE. AND THAT’S THE ISSUE OF ABORTION. DEMOCRATS RAN ON IT IN 24 AND DIDN’T HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS IN THOSE SWING STATES. THE UNH SURVEY CENTER IS NOT EVEN IN THEIR POLL OF TOP ISSUES ANYMORE. SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE SURVEY CENTER HAD IT IN ITS TOP ISSUES POLL. THEY HAD 1491 RESPONDENTS, LIKELY GRANITE STATE VOTERS. ONLY SEVEN SAID THAT ABORTION WAS THE TOP ISSUE FACING AMERICA. THAT’S LESS. THAT’S ESSENTIALLY 0%. GIVEN THAT REALITY AND WHAT THE LAW IS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, DO YOU THINK NOW THAT MOST PEOPLE AGREE WITH RESTRICTIONS ON LATE TERM ELECTIVE ABORTIONS AND THAT DEMOCRATS ARE NOW ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THAT ISSUE? WELL, I THINK WE ARE STILL EXPOSED AND THERE’S STILL A POLITICAL THREAT TO ABORTION BAN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND I THINK WE NEED LANGUAGE IN THE LAW THAT’S GOING TO ESTABLISH THE FRAMEWORK OF ROE AND PROTECT THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE CARE THAT THEY NEED. SO THAT’S WHY I’LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE WOMEN’S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE RESTORING ROE V WADE AS THE LAW OF THE LAND. THE FOLKS I TALKED TO AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE, THEY HAVE A RANGE OF CONCERNS, INCLUDING THE COST OF LIVING BEING FAR TOO HIGH, THE NEED TO INVEST IN HEALTH CARE AND HOUSING AND CHILD CARE, THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES. FOLKS ARE ALSO DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AFFRONT ON PERSONAL FREEDOMS. AND THEY KNOW THAT THIS ATTACK ON THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND THE ATTACK ON THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, IS SOMETHING THAT COULD CONTINUE. SO I THINK PEOPLE WOULD FEEL ADDITIONAL URGENCY IF THEY SEE LEGISLATION BEING FILED, IF THEY SEE THAT THERE ARE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE, INCLUDING JOHN SUNUNU, WHO HELPED INSTALL THE JUDGES AND JUSTICES, THAT GAVE US THE DOBBS DECISION IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO I THINK THIS WILL BE A POINT OF CONTRAST IN THIS CAMPAIGN AND SOMETHING IN THE LIVE FREE OR DIE STATE THAT PEOPLE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, YOU MENTIONED PERSONAL FREEDOMS THERE. THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, OR IOC, JUST ANNOUNCED A NEW POLICY ABOUT A MONTH AGO BANNING TRANSGENDER WOMEN ATHLETES FROM COMPETITION IN FEMALE CATEGORIES IN THE 2028 OLYMPIC GAMES IN LOS ANGELES, CITING CONCERNS OVER FAIRNESS, SAFETY AND INTEGRITY. DO YOU THINK THE IOC MADE THE WRONG DECISION THERE? WELL, I HAVE ALWAYS SAID ATHLETIC LEAGUES AND FOLKS WHO KNOW SPORTS AND PEOPLE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL SHOULD BE THE ONES MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT’S FAIR AND WHO SHOULD PLAY. SO I’VE BEEN FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT CONGRESS DOESN’T GET ON THE PLAYING FIELD IN THE MIDDLE ON THESE ISSUES, MAKING SURE ULTIMATELY, THAT IT’S COMMUNITIES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WITH PARENTS AND COACHES THAT ARE MAKING SMART DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT’S FAIR AND ENSURING THAT KIDS CAN PLAY. SO I THINK THAT’S A DECISION THAT WAS MADE IN THAT SAME SORT OF FRAMEWORK. AND I THINK WE’VE GOT TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT OUT THERE. I’M NOT HEARING ABOUT WHAT THE IOC HAS DONE, BUT I’M HEARING ABOUT PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO BUY A HOME OR OR AFFORD AN APARTMENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE HEALTH CARE CUTS COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON ARE GOING TO RAISE PREMIUMS AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO ACCESS CARE. SO MY FOCUS IS GOING TO BE ON HOW WE CREATE A MORE AFFORDABLE AND FAIR ECONOMY, HOW WE STAND UP TO POLITICAL EXTREMISM, AND THE CORPORATE SPECIAL INTERESTS IN WASHINGTON, HOW WE PUT NEW HAMPSHIRE FIRST, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU THINK IT’S AN ISSUE, YES OR NO, DO YOU THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION? I SUPPORT ATHLETIC LEAGUES AND ORGANIZATIONS MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT’S FAIR. AND FOR ME IN CONGRESS, THIS ISN’T ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN THE CULTURE WARS. IT’S ABOUT DELIVERING FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, MAKING LIFE FAIRER AND MORE AFFORDABLE. AND THAT’S WHERE MY FOCUS WILL BE. ALL RIGHT, CONGRESSMAN, THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CLOSE UP. WE’LL SEE YOU AROUND. THANKS, ADAM.
Chris Pappas says Iran conflict changed his view on weapons sales to Israel | CloseUp
Updated: 12:57 AM EDT Apr 27, 2026
U.S. Senate candidate Chris Pappas discusses a potential matchup with John E. Sununu, efforts to rein in corruption in Washington and questions about his own net worth, the military conflict in Iran, arms sales to Israel, abortion, and the International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban transgender women from female events at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
U.S. Senate candidate Chris Pappas discusses a potential matchup with John E. Sununu, efforts to rein in corruption in Washington and questions about his own net worth, the military conflict in Iran, arms sales to Israel, abortion, and the International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban transgender women from female events at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.