- Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin faced significant online backlash this week for discussing the “smell of war” on Fox News despite never having served in the military.
- Critics, including veteran Charlotte Clymer and groups like VoteVets, accused Mullin of presuming to speak for soldiers and lacking firsthand experience of conflict.
- Mullin, a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, made his comments while discussing US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and also accidentally referred to the Defense Secretary as “President Hegseth” multiple times.
- Further criticism arose from a photograph showing Mullin hiding during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, and his subsequent confusion between Iran and Iraq on another Fox appearance.
- The senator's remarks were seen as particularly insensitive following comments from Trump regarding the first US troops killed in recent skirmishes, which he described as “the way it is.”
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MAGA senator slammed after describing ‘smell of war’ when he’s never served in the military
