U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell

It was a pleasure to visit with Kentucky members of the National League of Cities. As a former local elected official, I know how important these public servants are to the success of their local communities, and I’m grateful for their dedication to the people of Kentucky. @leagueofcities @KyLeagueCities

Strong, capable allies lower the costs of securing America’s interests around the world. On NATO’s eastern front, Estonia continues to prove it – investing over 5% of GDP in its own defense and covering the full sustainment costs for U.S. forces who receive essential training on Estonian soil. I was glad to meet with Minister of Defense @HPevkur to discuss ongoing U.S.-Estonian collaboration.

Joe Kent testified before the Senate one year ago that Iran and its terror proxies threatened U.S. servicemembers in the Middle East. He said it would be an honor to return to the fight against terrorism, and he pledged to lead with integrity and accountability. The virulent anti-Semitism of his resignation letter makes it clear that Mr. Kent is incapable of upholding these pledges, and those who mistake its baseless and incendiary conspiracies for brave truth-telling are only fooling themselves. Isolationists and anti-Semites have no place in either party, and certainly do not deserve places of trust in our government.

I was saddened to learn that Kentucky lost another brave soul in the Middle East. United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt died in Iraq while supporting Operation Epic Fury. A native of Bardstown, Kentucky, Ashley was a dedicated airman who exemplified leadership in her role each and every day. Her sacrifice is a testament to the bravery and unwavering commitment of our servicemembers who risk their lives in defense of America. Elaine and I are thinking of Sgt. Pruitt’s family, and we continue to pray for our troops in the Middle East.

It was great meeting with leaders from @kysoybean this week. I am grateful for their advocacy efforts on behalf of hardworking soybean farmers in Kentucky.

I had the pleasure of welcoming the Kentucky Delegates from the U.S. Senate Youth Program to my office today. I’m proud of how much these young people have accomplished, and there is no doubt they have bright futures ahead. @SenateYouth

It was fun catching up with Russell Springs Mayor Eddie Thomas this week. I’m honored to welcome him and his team to Washington, and thank them for their leadership at the local level. @CityofRSKY

Proud of fellow Republicans like @SenTedCruz and @SenTomCotton for policing our ranks against vile hatred. Cotton nailed it yesterday: “I do not agree that I share a political movement or political party with anyone who traffics in antisemitism.”

Always a pleasure to visit with my friends from @PennyrileADD. I’m grateful for the dedication of these local elected officials and their advocacy efforts on behalf of Western Kentucky.

I was glad to see my friends from the Kentucky Bankers Association today. I’m thankful for all they do to support economic development in Kentucky communities.

Today, Kentucky mourns the loss of one of our own: Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington, U.S. Army., a native of Glendale. Sgt. Pennington was killed by Iran in an attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia. Sgt. Pennington’s death is an awful reminder of the costs of Tehran’s decades-long war against American servicemembers. A grateful nation honors his life and his service to our country as he paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending American freedom. Elaine and I are thinking of his family during this difficult time, and we pray for our troops still in harm’s way in the Middle East.

U.S.-Israeli operations in Iran are succeeding on two levels: destroying Iran’s military and terror capacity AND exposing the impotence of online isolationists who thought they could launder anti-Semitism and retreat into U.S. policy. It’s time to reject these views once and for all.

My colleagues @SenatorCollins and @SenKatieBritt are right. We’re 3 weeks into Democrats’ shortsighted DHS shutdown. Our armed forces are conducting ongoing operations against Iran. And keeping our airways, cyberinfrastructure, ports, borders, and coastlines secure is as important as ever. I hope my Democrat colleagues will come to their senses during this heightened threat environment and end this reckless shutdown.

Good to see Jim Akers of @BGStockyards and other members of the Livestock Marketing Association in Washington this week. I’m grateful for all the work they do to support livestock producers in Kentucky and across the country.

Glad to see my friends from the Kentucky Broadcasters Association this week in Washington. It’s always good to visit with them each and every year, and I appreciate their advocacy efforts on behalf of Kentucky’s broadcasters. @nabtweets

The State Department is assisting Americans 24/7 to depart the Middle East. ⦁ Americans trying to get home from Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, or Qatar: complete this form to request that we contact you with info on U.S. government-facilitated departure options as they become available: mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake ⦁ Americans in the Middle East: Contact us at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from US & Canada). ⦁ Get the latest security info by enrolling at STEP.state.gov, following the “U.S. Department of State – Security Alerts for U.S. Citizens” WhatsApp channel, and visiting travel.state.gov/destination.

🚨 Americans in the Middle East who need consular assistance can call the U.S. Department of State 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444.