The next is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio, that aired on “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 30, 2025.
NANCY CORDES: We are joined now by way of Ohio Republican Congressman Mike Turner. Congressman, thank you for being with us. Satisfied Thanksgiving.
REP. MIKE TURNER: Thanks, Nancy. Satisfied Thanksgiving to you additionally.
NANCY CORDES: So, you heard what Sam Vinograd simply needed to say in regards to the vetting procedure. You have additionally heard what management officers are pronouncing about it. Do you consider that this used to be a failure of vetting, or do you consider here is any person who simply turned into radicalized or turned into mentally disturbed right here in america?
REP. TURNER: That is very tricky, as a result of, I imply, here is vintage terrorism. And here is the place a person who tries to wreck the center of a country who does not enact a murderous act proper earlier than Thanksgiving and the- I feel what Samantha is lacking in all of here is that we did not pass to Afghanistan to carry Afghanis right here. We went to Afghanistan to kill Osama bin Weighted down, to dismantle and damage al-Qaeda, to avenge 9//11, to dismantle and to overthrow the Taliban and to make sure that Afghanistan used to be not a protected haven for terrorism. What took place is that the Biden management allowed Afghanistan to fall and fled, and in doing so, then discovered itself in a scenario the place those that have been helping us have been then in peril, and in doing so made the decision–
NANCY CORDES:– You do not assume they might were in peril both approach?
REP. TURNER: No, they were- their purpose used to be that they might be nonetheless there. That Afghanistan would not be a protected haven for terrorists, that it could now not be a go back to the Taliban, and there would now not be a necessity for the ones other folks to be evacuated. You would not see American planes at the tarmac, as you confirmed with other folks working to take a look at to get on them. By way of the way in which, the ones planes would not be being chased by way of other folks in the event that they have been on their approach to China or Russia, they have been on their approach to The united states, and the ones other folks have been fleeing what the Biden management used to be permitting to spread, which is that it could as soon as once more be a country that could be in peril to us. And so, you recognize, that is the way you get to the placement the place the ones people are in peril. Now, clearly the vetting used to be improper. By way of your personal document, you confirmed that people who have been on our recognized terrorist watch record made it into this nation thru that procedure. So clearly that the vetting procedure–
NANCY CORDES:– However then- then they have been identified–
REP. TURNER:– however they made it in. They made it in, proper? They made it into this nation. So clearly the method used to be improper, and it used to be additionally a procedure that are meant to were needless, if there hadn’t been this hasty fall of Afghanistan. Wherein the Biden management had promised us all that they weren’t going to run for the exits. They usually now not most effective ran for the exits, they did so at evening. You understand, Congress used to be, you recognize, after listening to, after listening to, you recognize, raised the problems of the way during which the Biden management fled and what the effects could be. And we are all residing with this outcome now, the investigation is underway.
NANCY CORDES: Were not their arms tied partially by way of the truth that Trump had lower a maintain the Taliban promising to depart by way of a definite date?
REP. TURNER: No, their arms weren’t tied. The style during which they did so, and Congress did quite a few investigations, at quite a few hearings, and filed quite a few reviews that confirmed that it used to be the movements of the Biden management, a way during which they totally withdrew. However that investigation is underway. It’ll be underway as to this particular person, and I feel all of us want to watch for that investigation to be concluded.
NANCY CORDES: The President has known as for 500 extra Nationwide Guard troops to be despatched to the country’s capital. Your state has already contributed 150. Do you consider that extra troops being deployed is the solution, or do you assume it is time to wind this deployment down?
REP. TURNER: While you ask this, is that the solution? You must first speak about what the query is, and the query is, is there a countrywide factor of- of crime and protection? And indisputably the American other folks, by way of all polls, point out that individuals are experiencing it and document that there’s. And indisputably within the country’s capital, there has been- there was incredible reviews of simply the- the illegal activity, even though, the- the ones people who have succumbed to, you recognize, violent crime. And indisputably, there is been a reporting that the Nationwide Guard presence has made a distinction.
NANCY CORDES: Proper. No query, I feel crime is down 30% one thing like that during DC within the final 4 months. I need to flip to Ukraine now, some other factor crucial to you. A group of Ukrainian negotiators is assembly presently in Miami with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff. What is your working out of the place the negotiations stand presently. There have been considerations to begin with that the White Space plan used to be too pro-Russia. Do you continue to have the ones considerations?
REP. TURNER: Neatly, I feel all of us have the ones considerations. The- the- you recognize, the President’s function of peace is amazingly vital, and we noticed these days with Secretary Rubio his commentary of, you recognize, we need to have a powerful and sovereign Ukraine, and I- and that is the reason everybody’s function, and the- and indisputably a filthy rich Ukraine. And we noticed the Ukrainian consultant there, who’s, you recognize, dedicated. And we indisputably assume, and I feel everybody thinks that President Zelenskyy is dedicated to peace. However you recognize, something that I feel everyone understands is that you’ll’t have- you’ll’t be The united states first and pro-Russia, as a result of Russia has- is a self declared adversary of america. It is fielding new, complex nuclear guns which can be in particular concentrated on america. It is continuously attacking america with offensive cyber. It regularly identifies each NATO and the West, america as its adversary. So on this and naturally, when it identifies Ukraine as its adversary, it does so in figuring out the West and america as its adversary. You must remember that the steadiness of this- this peace association needs to be one the place it’s important to have a look at Russia as a skeptical adversary.
NANCY CORDES: Talking of the query of being pro-Russian, this week, Bloomberg were given a dangle of this transcript of a decision between Steve Witkoff, the particular envoy, and a Putin guide, during which Witkoff seemed to be training the Russian on learn how to win over President Trump. And there are a number of Republicans that experience nice considerations about that. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania known as it a serious problem. Don Beaverbrook of Nebraska mentioned Witkoff totally favors the Russians and must be fired. What do you assume?
REP. TURNER: Neatly, the section that involved me maximum is that there seemed to be an orchestration of giving Putin a chance to talk to Trump earlier than President Zelensky used to be on his approach to the White Space. And I would not need any orchestration of lessening President Zelenskyy’s courting with Trump, as a result of it is crucial if in case you have negotiations that, particularly as you may have, you know- on this example Russia is being, you recognize, clearly, unbelievably murderous of the Ukrainian other folks. It’s an competitive authoritarian regime on this it is killing civilians. It’s- it’s not simply this. Isn’t an army towards army motion. They’re bombing into Ukraine and murderously killing civilians in Ukraine. The- the Ukrainian individuals are being subjected to this, and the President Trump wishes so that you could listen Zelenskyy’s voice obviously, and now not simply the authoritarian murderous Putin.
NANCY CORDES: So given your considerations, must Witkoff proceed to function one of the crucial major US negotiators right here and must he be despatched by way of President Trump to Moscow this week to fulfill with Putin?
REP. TURNER: I feel you’ll’t take only one slice of any person’s dialog all the way through a protracted, stretched out side of negotiations as reflective, however I feel it is indisputably vital that after we do get that chance, that our voices are heard of warning and worry. And the orchestration of putting Putin’s voice earlier than Zelenskyy could be very relating to, and I feel the White Space must be very all for any efforts to orchestrate Putin’s voice on the White Space earlier than Zelenskyy’s as a result of Ukraine’s sovereignty and safety must be preeminent. And we heard that this morning from Rubio, and that must be the point of interest.
NANCY CORDES: President Trump mentioned this used to be simply common deal making. I need to flip to Venezuela, since you’re at the Space Armed Services and products Committee. Now we have all been looking at the army buildup within the waters round Venezuela. Simply the day prior to this, the President mentioned airways must believe Venezuelan airspace closed. Do you’re taking that to imply {that a} army operation is drawing close?
REP. TURNER: Neatly, the President didn’t say that, and the President indisputably has now not given Congress any understand that this is going to happen. And he indisputably has now not made the case. There’s a buildup that the President has now not defined in some way that relates only to the movements which can be recently happening within the Caribbean, and with appreciate to the drug business that the President has been discussing with Congress, it’s indisputably an important worry in Congress.
NANCY CORDES: The Washington Publish is reporting that earlier than the strike on the first actual suspected drug vote in September, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that everybody on board be killed, after which when two of the 11 other folks on board survived, a follow-on strike used to be ordered to complete them off within the water. Now some regulation of warfare mavens are pronouncing that that used to be unlawful, that killing people who find themselves not in a position to battle is a warfare crime. What’s your view and what questions do you may have for the Pentagon?
REP. TURNER: Congress does now not have knowledge that that had took place. Each the chairman of the Senate Armed Services and products Committee, Chairman of the Space Armed Services and products Committee, and rating contributors have opened investigations. Clearly, if that took place, that could be- be very severe, and I agree that- that- that would- could be an unlawful act. That isn’t the felony opinion or the tips or the felony justification, the acts which have been described to Congress which can be being undertaken in- on this. There are very severe considerations in Congress in regards to the assaults at the so-called drug boats down within the Caribbean and the Pacific, and the felony justification has been supplied. However this is- is totally outdoor of anything else that has been mentioned with Congress, and there’s an ongoing investigation.
NANCY CORDES: Very fascinating to listen to you are saying that this may well be an unlawful act. I do know your committee is looking extra questions. We would love to be told what you in finding out. Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio, thanks such a lot for being with us.
REP. TURNER: I respect it.
NANCY CORDES: And we’re going to be proper again with much more Face the Country. Stick with us.
