As the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is pushing for a regime change in Iran – a stance that other Texas Republicans in Washington have been hesitant to embrace.
Texas’ junior senator has not called for U.S. troops on the ground in Iran, but says a regime change in Iran would “enhance American security.”
“It sort of signals a bit of a rift in President Trump’s coalition,” said Kayla Guo, politics reporter for the Texas Tribune. “[Trump’s] a more isolationist figure. Ted Cruz is pushing for military strikes and a possible regime change in Iran, which is sort of a hard line that not many in the Texas delegation at least have embraced yet.”
Other Texas Republicans have yet to take a strong position on U.S. military involvement in the conflict, but say they stand with whatever action the president decides to take.
“Most will say that they support Israel and they want Israel to have the ability to respond to attacks on them and to secure their national defense,” Guo said. “But I don’t think others have called yet for regime change, and are a little bit more hesitant about committing more U.S. support for fear of escalating the conflict and involving American troops.”
Hear more stories from the week in Texas politics in the audio player above.
