New Jersey Republican Senate candidate Justin Murphy calls on Trump to press forward with Iran conflict
Justin Murphy, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in New Jersey, expressed support for continuing U.S. military action in Iran during a debate against incumbent Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). Murphy urged President Donald Trump to "put your cowboy hat on and get out there and kick some a** and get this done and done right." The Washington Examiner described Murphy's position as a contrast to most other GOP candidates.
Single source · Not corroborated
Justin Murphy, the Republican challenger to Sen. Cory Booker in New Jersey's 2026 U.S. Senate race, called on President Donald Trump to continue military operations against Iran during a debate with the incumbent senator. Murphy addressed Trump directly, urging him to press forward and resolve the conflict decisively.
The Washington Examiner, the sole source covering this story, noted that Murphy's position stands apart from most other Republican candidates, characterizing his stance as a "stark contrast" within the party. The outlet's reporting surfaced this moment in the context of broader GOP tensions over the Iran conflict, with a sidebar reference noting that Vice President Vance has publicly hinted at disagreement with Trump over the war.
Murphy's debate remarks came during what the Examiner separately described as an underdog campaign — the outlet noted in a related headline that Murphy entered the race with a negative campaign balance, underscoring the resource gap between him and Booker.