Senator Peter Welch Calls Out Trump’s Failed Iran Policy, Supreme Court’s Attack on Voting Rights, and ICE’s Border Missteps

Senator Peter Welch is sounding the alarm on multiple fronts as he hears from Vermonters frustrated by Washington’s failures. Speaking with WAMC’s Pat Bradley, the Vermont Democrat didn’t hold back on the Trump administration’s escalating threats against Iran, the Supreme Court’s dangerous rightward lurch, and ICE’s chaotic border enforcement tactics.

On Iran, Welch calls Trump’s policy a “disaster,” criticizing the president’s bluster about bombing the Strait of Hormuz. He points out the reality that small Iranian boats can effectively close the strait, which Trump’s threats have only made worse by driving up diesel and fertilizer prices. “He’s in a corner and I don’t know how he’s going to get out of it, but he’s got to stop the war,” Welch said bluntly.

Turning to the Supreme Court, Welch denounces the conservative majority for enabling billionaire money to dominate elections, condoning partisan gerrymandering, and undermining voting rights. He highlights the court’s hypocrisy in allowing racial profiling in immigration enforcement while simultaneously denying minority representation through manipulated districts. “The court has been a disaster,” Welch said.

Welch supports legislation to ban mid-cycle redistricting, a tactic that allows politicians to rig elections midstream. While he acknowledges it won’t happen in the current Congress, he insists that “voters should decide who their leaders are, not the politicians.”

On ICE, Welch expressed frustration that Vermont officials were blindsided by the arrival of border czar Tom Homan after a bungled ICE raid in Burlington left local law enforcement in the dark. While he was not notified of Homan’s visit, Welch welcomed the meeting between federal and local law enforcement to address safety concerns.

Looking ahead, Welch’s priorities include passing a federal budget, ending the war threats, and securing a farm bill to support American farmers. He also expressed cautious optimism about the new surgeon general nominee’s stance on vaccinations.

Throughout, Welch emphasized the need for Democrats to unite behind working families and deliver tangible change. “Anybody who’s willing to work hard, they should have government on their side, not making it harder for them,” he said.

In a political climate marred by corruption, authoritarian overreach, and attacks on democracy, Welch’s blunt assessments underscore the urgent need for accountability and resistance.