Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) was accused Wednesday of deploying Orwellian logic while defending Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran.

“Here’s why we went into Iran. We had no choice. The president didn’t start a war; he was trying to stop a war,” Kennedy told Larry Kudlow on Fox Business.

Watch the full interview on Fox Business.

Kennedy also repeated Trump’s unverified claim that Iran was rapidly building up its missile stockpile and posed a growing threat to America, and insisted Tehran was solely responsible for the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping lane through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.

“Iran shut it, we didn’t! We’re not to blame,” he said.

Sen. John Kennedy: "The president didn't start a war. He was trying to stop a war." pic.twitter.com/8Tdz3IUkQx

The remarks prompted swift backlash, with critics likening his argument to the kind of warped logic deployed by the authoritarian regime in George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984.”

“War is peace,” wrote one critic on X, a reference to the paradoxical party slogan in the book.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command,” another added.

Everyone knows the best way to stop a war is to start one. Duh.

Trump 100% started this war. And it was an unnecessary war.Republicans can't be allowed to have majorities in Congress if they're going to be this ridiculous.

Trump started a fucking war. There was no war and no danger of one being started until he started one.

Reminds me how the Spanish inquisition argued that torturing people and burning them at the stake was done out of love and compassion to save their immortal souls. 🥰

Trying to sell the regime’s propaganda with your folksy schtick is an immediate BS disqualifier.

Of course. You stop wars by starting them. Makes perfect sense.

Facts are so inconvenient...

I'm used to politicians lying. But the scope of this administration and its cronies' lies are completely off the charts.

"War is Peace"- Orwell, '1984'

Abject stupidity from a sitting senator. MAGA Cult personified.

This is horse manure. Trump ran on keeping us out of wars. He said nothing about us already being in a war with Iran.

This is like a bank robber saying: “I didn’t steal the money — I helped the bank reinvest it!”Utterly absurd.How dumb does he think MAGA is? Oh wait… never mind 😑

If only some countries got together and signed an Iran Nuclear agreement 10 years or so ago to prevent the need for any of this. 😏

This isn’t just stupid… this is maga level stupid

Ah yes the old 'peace through war' gambit.

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