The following is a transcript of an interview with Rep. Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas, aired on May 11, 2025 on “National Facing Margaret Brennan.”
Ed O'Keefe: Now we turn to Texas Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, who joined us from Austin. He is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee. Member of Congress, thank you for being with us. I want to start with the situation in Ukraine first, because on the weekend, the United States, Europe and Ukraine, a proposal is now proposed, and a 30-day ceasefire will be underway on Monday. President Putin has basically violated it and called for direct dialogue with Ukraine in Turkey at some point without any conditions. How close do you think we are?
represent. Michael McCaul: If I could first, Ed, say Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, especially my wife Linda. Now start the topic. This is very intense. You know, there is a 30-day ceasefire. Mr. Putin decided to bomb Ukraine on Sunday on Palm Sunday. He didn't make any concessions at all, and Zelenskyy seemed to be making all concessions. So if - most importantly, Putin had to agree to a 30-day ceasefire for any peace negotiations, and the land he asked for - you know, even JD Vance talked about that, President, President, you know, Russia wasn't even occupied in Ukraine, so he had to operate in sincerity. We want peace, but we don't have to be peace at any price, because peace at any price is like an app, as we have seen with Chamberlain and Hitler, which is unacceptable.
Ed O'Keefe: Now, the president has suggested in the past week that the U.S. could impose other sanctions on Russia if the U.S. disagrees with the ceasefire. You know, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has at least 70 colleagues in the Senate passed a new sanctions bill. You are on its home version, too. How likely is this legislation?
represent. McCall: It really depends on Mr. Putin. I mean, whether it is sanctions or another supplemental bill to fund this conflict, we hope to see this with the Pope, I am proud to be a Catholic and a pope in the United States, calling for peace, but not at any cost. So if Mr. Putin disagrees with the 30-day ceasefire, I think the sanctions are almost certain, not only from Congress, but from the White House.
Ed O'Keefe: Well, this is a way to call Russia. On the other hand - I think we need to continue putting pressure on Ukraine. You help get the last round of military aid in Ukraine, but Speaker Johnson said there are no plans to bring new military aid to the floor of the house. What do you need to do now to convince the Speaker to vote on the legislation?
represent. McCall: Well, the last time I passed it was a big achievement. Ed, if we do not achieve this, Russia will occupy Ukraine today. There is no doubt. If Mr. Putin decides to negotiate in good faith, there will be a president's reduction authorities that can use more weapons to enter Ukraine. Again, this is indeed attributed by Mr. Putin to the sincere negotiations we have so far started here. We all hope this war is over. We all want peace, but we want a just peace.
Ed O'Keefe: As we mentioned, the president is heading to the Middle East tomorrow, and on Monday, there were reports that he no longer demanded Saudi recognition of Israel as a condition for a nuclear deal with the United States. Is this a mistake, or is this nuclear agreement so critical that it is okay to not recognize Ukraine and let it go?
represent. McCall: We don't have all the details. I know he was there to discuss economic alliances with Arab countries and Arab countries and Saudi Arabia, the UAE. This is important, just like the minerals voted for by the Ukrainian parliament. Economically, we are closely related to the Middle East, the more safe we will be, the more it will drive China out of the region. However, the ultimate goal here is a normalization agreement with Israel. We have come close to this until Iran decides to invade on October 7 through its agents in Gaza and Hamas. So the point is, we need to have all of this as a packaging. However, we cannot normalize until you have a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. I think this is a more difficult work here.
Ed O'Keefe: There are a lot of conflicts in the world, and I certainly mean Israel. You admit that in the answer, the idea of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Many problems around the world. But, there is a question, I want to get home, and I want to talk to you again, because you are a member of the House Homeland Security Committee. Last weekend, we saw immigration and customs enforcement arresting the mayor of Newark outside the federal detention center, who are now threatening to arrest three Democratic lawmakers in Congress for allegedly allegedly assaulting or touching the ice sheet agents on the scene. I'm just curious whether Bing should arrest or even threaten to arrest a member of Congress?
represent. McCall: I mean, it was obviously a very intense move. I only do this when they accomplice with the crime. I don't know all the facts behind this. If they are just visiting the detention center. That's - I've done it a lot. If they undermine the law enforcement department, that's another problem. So you know, we can protest peacefully in this country, but you cannot complicate violence against our law enforcement. I think this might boil down to. Ed, if I could add one last thing to Gaza, Governor David Beasley, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Governor David Beasley will be appointed to the end of the day. I just talked to him over the phone, had a lot of conversations with the Arab countries, trying to bring this aid to Gaza. He was formerly the President of the World Food Programme. If anyone can accomplish this, it is him. So I have great hope that he might be able to end this conflict in Gaza and then we can reach normalization, for the first time in our lives, we can see real peace in the Middle East.
Ed O'Keefe: It's reported that Beasley will be in charge of some new effort. Did you tell us he officially told you that it was the plan and now he is hired?
represent. McCall: Well, this is not official yet. I expected it to be. And he had a conversation with the Arab countries, who trusted him very much based on his previous performance.
Ed O'Keefe: Of course, it's known for his work in the World Food Program. I do want to ask you another thing, though, in the field of homeland security, because over the past week, Stephen Miller, a senior White House adviser, said habeas proof procedures could be suspended at the time of invasion, saying the administration is looking for ways that have the potential to eliminate proper procedures to enable immigrants without culture. You are an attorney, someone who involves homeland security issues and immigration there in the Lone Star State. Is it a good idea to pause the corpus of habeas protection programs?
represent. McCall: Well, this was done by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. You know this is a very extreme measure. According to the Constitution, anyone in the United States has legitimate procedural rights. Therefore, I think the court will decide whether this invasion constitutes a war situation. Some people will say yes. People in my Texas saw the invasion and drug cartels and the dangers they brought in this country. I think this will be a very interesting legal argument in the court.
Ed O'Keefe: Well, call the invasion curiously, especially when the government likes to remind us that, of course, the border crossing is in a historic situation. So, this will be part of the legal debate. I think, MP -
represent. McCall: - They have achieved it, yes.
Ed O'Keefe: They definitely have it. Congressman Michael McCaul, thank you for traveling around the world with us this morning. We are grateful and we will be back soon.