The Matt Gaetz Show 3/2/2026

It's tiresome listening to commentators come on and talk about Iran today as though it hasn't changed in 47 years. It's profoundly different. Most Iranians pay virtually no attention whatsoever to Ramadan. Women are not running around in bags. Uh the mosques tend to be on the whole empty on Friday. So I think it's a mistake to impute too much to the theocracy. In fact, I think the theocracy understands that there's going to be a major compromise in how Iran is governed in the future. >> I spoke to a source inside our own government who was concerned prior to the attack that an attack could strengthen the hand of some of Iran's hardliners in the regime. What do you know about some of the some some of the rising personalities here? And do you think the dynamics that are playing out are likely to result in a more amanimable government or a government that's more dug in? >> I think this this country is going to stay the course. I think that we had false expectations that Iran would fall apart in 48 to 72 hours. We imputed too much to what we thought was some major upheaval in the country when it wasn't. When there were protests, there were lots of people miserable and unhappy because of the economy, thanks in large part to our sanctions, but also a great deal of mismanagement by the government. But the the population at large was not interested in overthrowing the government. They're not going to overthrow it now. They're going to stay the course. And the thing is that right now, I'm beginning to think more and more that logistics will decide the outcome. Uh we're already running out of missiles in places like UAE and Qatar. Uh the Navy has fired very very few standard missiles or sea sparrows and I get the impression our inventory is low. The Israelis have shot a lot of missiles and I don't think they can keep this up indefinitely and we can't produce enough to keep up. So it may be that ultimately logistics decides the real outcome because I don't think there's any danger of the Iranians running out of missiles. I I well I I think that the target package signifies an understanding of that dynamic to some degree in the Pentagon because uh they they've been shooting at the depots of of the Iranian missiles to try to limit Iran's ability to retaliate against other Arab states, US troops in the region. But we do have six dead Americans as we're having this conversation. >> I think people are surprised at what they've encountered and the intensity and the numbers of attacks continue to increase. But I don't even think we've seen most of the really lethal missiles yet from Iran. >> Why would they hold back? We killed K we killed Kani. There, if you watch other channels or or or other programs, uh you're going to see a lot of analysis that says Kani is dead. All of this senior leadership got taken out. Decapitation achieved. Now we're going to get a new wave of people with a reset deterrence. Whatever we face with Iran, they're not going to have these ballistic missiles. they're not going to have this nuclear program. Uh, and in the meantime, people in the streets are cheering and love America. Now, I mean, that is that is wallto-wall anywhere else you look, which is which is precisely why I wanted to talk to you, Colonel McGregor, because I do think it's important to to get different perspectives on that question. Um if if if this is going to be a status where Iran's getting bombed, um they're not going to leave power or surrender in any meaningful way, when do you think China starts to kind of flex around this? because a lot of that oil that's going to be backed up in in the Persian Gulf is going to China and at the same time China can look at the the scenario you just described with declining US stock piles and and they might start licking their lips and and looking at Taiwan. What do you assess as as their likely move? >> China draws about 50% of its oil from the Persian Gulf. So does India. China has stored up a great deal of oil in expectation of this war and the Russians are working overtime. They're doubling down to provide India, China, and everybody else with oil. In fact, Russia is a huge winner right now. Certainly in financial terms, they're making money handover fist. I'm not I I see no evidence for the Chinese invading Taiwan. I think it's utter nonsense. That needs to go away. The Chinese are not going to do that. They made that very clear. Unless we put missiles and troops on Taiwan that threaten China, there will be no invasion. And right now you have the KMT party, which is Shanghai Sheekel Party. They control the parliament. The parliament is pro- unification. It's the president who is a so-called liberal nationalist. I don't know what the exact term is, but that's the pro pro- US pro-Japanese party. >> Take out the Taiwan part, Colonel. But what about what about China's ability to impact outcomes in the straits of Hormuz with uh what what is now the government of Iran and then 50% of their oil on the other side waiting to get through? >> Well, China and Russia are sitting on the sidelines monitoring everything. They're in close touch with the government. They're providing satellite intelligence which accounts for some of the tremendous successes particularly in Israel and on our US bases. All of our bases have been destroyed. Our harbor installations are destroyed. We're actually having to fall back on India and Indian ports which are less than ideal. That's what the Navy says. And uh I I just I think Iran much to our disappointment is fairing very very well. The question is how long can we keep this up? >> I think logistics is the is the vulnerable part of this entire operation. Remember you got to go back and reload. You've got to fly things in. You've got to sail in. Iran is a continental power. 93 million people the size of Western Europe. Both China and Russia are continental powers. They don't have supply chain problems. Their manufacturing capabilities are intact. Right now, the missile cities that under underly all of Iran's provinces are untouched and they have an inexhaustible supply of missiles. I think this is going to go on for some time. And the question is when does Israel step up and say they've had enough? We went through that before during the 12-day war. When do they say this is too much? When do they say if this doesn't stop we use a nuclear weapon? >> That's what I would be concerned about. And that's where President Trump, who really doesn't appear appear to be in charge, Mr. Netanyahu does has got to be prepared to step in and say, "No, there will be no use of nuclear weapons.

U.S. Decapitation Strikes Target Iran Leaders