¶ Overview
While Trump was bombing civilians and racking up US servicemember casualties in his Iran war, Tafoya was cheering him on. She defended his reckless war of choice, claiming it was a necessity. As the conflict was jacking up prices for gas and fertilizer, Tafoya turned a blind eye to Minnesotans' need for relief; she even suggested taking “one less trip to Starbucks,” callously pinning the cost of the war on voters' backs.
¶ Tafoya Supported Trump's Costly War With Iran
¶ Tafoya Supported Trump’s Strikes On Iran
Tafoya Defended Striking Iran And Said That Brave Troops Risk Their Lives In The Name Of Freedom, Women’s Rights, Liberty, And Peace.” Michele Tafoya tweeted, “Brave troops risk their lives every day. Today they did so in the name of freedom, women’s rights, liberty, and peace. What part of this don’t you understand, Tina?” [Twitter, @Michele_Tafoya, 2/28/26]
Tafoya Focused On The Troops In Action In Operation Epic Fury. Michele Tafoya tweeted, “God bless our American troops in action in Operation Epic Fury. Praying for freedom in the region. Thank you to all who serve. And RIP to the thousands of innocent Iranians killed by their own government.” [Twitter, @Michele_Tafoya, 2/28/26]
[VIDEO] Tafoya Said War With Iran “Had To Happen” And Praised Trump For Being “Willing” To Do So. “You know, look, the thing in Iran had to happen. We’ve been tiptoeing around this, dancing around it for close to 50 years. And when they say death to little Satan Israel, and death to the big Satan America, they mean it. And the negotiations were not going anywhere, Dan. So there's a certain point where, again, you cannot threaten a red line if you're not willing to cross it. And this president was willing to cross it.” [Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich, 3/32/26]
Tafoya Praised Trump For The Iran War And Said It “Must Be Done.” According to the Bemidji Pioneer, “During Tafoya's meet and greet, she addressed a myriad of topics before opening the floor to questions. She listed fraud as a No. 1 concern, with foreign policy close behind. Specifically, she expressed support for the war in Iran, which has persisted since Feb. 28, without congressional approval. ‘... Finally, we have a president with the spine to do it,’ she said of Trump entering a war with Iran. ‘Now, no one likes war. I don't, and I know people are in harm's way, but I think the military guys in this room will tell you that's what the military does. This one must be done.’” [Bemidji Pioneer, 5/19/26]
[AUDIO] Tafoya Said Trump’s War In Iran Was “One Of The Most Important Moves A President Has Made In Modern History.” “We see now the Middle East shifting a little bit toward, you know what, Iran is a cancer here. We don't want this anymore. We don't want this adversary. I think this is one of the most important moves a president has made in modern history. I want to see it through. Now. Look, the president promised us this wasn't going to be a forever war, and so far it hasn't been. And I believe he's surrounded by really good minds, Marco Rubio being one of them. And I think that we've got to wait and let see where this sees where this lands. But if it's up to me, I want this problem solved. I want this thing finished. I don't want the mullahs in power there. I don't I want those people in Iran to be able to take their country back. And I want peace in the Middle East.” [Sunday Take, 5/10/26]
¶ Tafoya Believed The War Was Worth It To Make Sure Iran Would Never Have A Nuclear Weapon
[VIDEO] Tafoya Did Not Want A “Protracted” Conflict But Insisted It Was Necessary To Keep Iran From Having A Nuclear Weapon. “Tafoya did, however, support the president’s decision to go to war with Iran. Houser asked if Tafoya was concerned that there didn’t appear to be an exit strategy. Tafoya replied, ‘I want there to be an exit to this, of course. We do not want boots on the ground. We do not want a protracted war, but we do not want that regime to have a nuclear weapon. Period. The end.’ She added that she supported immigration enforcement, but disagreed with the way it was carried out in Minneapolis.”" [KSTP (ABC), 8/21/26]
[VIDEO] Tafoya Suggested The Military Could “Minimize” American Casualties While Still Wiping Out Iran's Nuclear Program. “The host asked if Tafoya would have voted to end funding for the Iran war. Tafoya said that Iran’s ‘thug regime’ had been in power for 47 years and couldn’t be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. She said too many soldiers had died at their hands. She added, 'And at the same time, I don't- nobody wants an ongoing war with boots on the ground. But I think two things can be true. I think we can, can take that nuclear program away while trying to minimize American casualties.'” [WCCO (CBS), 8/16/26]
¶ Tafoya Said That Americans Needed To Sacrifice For The War In Iran
Tafoya Said To Deal With Rising Gas Prices From The Iran War, That Americans Should “Take One Less Trip To Starbucks” And “Just Try To Be Patriots About This.” According to The Hill, “A Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota suggested that Americans should cut back on daily costs amid the economic strain caused by the U.S. military operation in Iran. Former NFL reporter Michele Tafoya acknowledged how ‘frustrating’ and ‘hard’ rising gas prices are for consumers during a Wednesday radio interview, but she suggested Americans should minimize some of their spending to support President Trump’s actions in the Middle East. ‘I think right now at least just kind of keeping a stiff upper lip. Maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks and so that gas goes a little further,’ she told Tennessee’s KWAM radio host Todd Starnes. ‘Until this thing is over and these gas prices go back down again, let’s just try to be patriots about this,’ Tafoya continued. ‘Whether you agree with it or not, we’re there and we’ve got to support our men and women in uniform.’” [The Hill, 3/19/26]
¶ Tafoya Supported Funding The Iran War
[VIDEO] Tafoya Defended The Iran War And Said “I Support Funding That” And That “I Don’t Want Anyone Tying The Hands Of This President To Finish This Job.” “Well, we don't know that this is a forever war. I don't have any evidence yet that this is a forever war. The president has said very firmly he's not for forever wars, and neither am I. I support yes, I support our troops and I support this decision. I mean, call me a little old fashioned, but when a regime in a foreign country puts our kids in Arlington Cemetery, when he puts them in Walter Reed, permanently maimed, when I say he, I mean the ayatollah, the regime. Then we have every right to go after their military and their leadership. And so I applaud the president on doing this, on his schedule, his time frame, his reasoning before these monsters get a nuclear weapon. So to just say that this is a forever war, I don't see the evidence of that yet. So far, everything we're hearing is we're going to make this weeks, not months. And so I support funding that. I don't want anyone tying the hands of this president to finish this job. This job needs to be finished. And our military has done an exceptional job so far. And this president has done what so many before him didn't have the guts to do or the will to do. And so I say, finish the job. Let's support them. This is a monstrous regime. And they have been chanting Death to America for over 50 years. And so before they get that nuclear weapon to do with what they will, I say take it down.” [Political Pitchforks, 3/22/26]
¶ The Iran War Was Hiking Prices For Fuel And Fertilizer
Minnesota Farmers Had To Pay More For Fertilizer Due To The War. According to WDIO, “Local farmers in Minnesota are still facing higher fertilizer and shipping costs this planting season. The Middle East supplies nearly half of the world’s urea, a key fertilizer ingredient. Since the U.S.-Iran conflict began in February, oil, energy, shipping and fertilizer costs have risen sharply. The Minnesota Farmers’ Union reports that nearly 25 percent of the world’s petroleum and 30 percent of nitrogen supplies have increased in price. Due to global supply disruptions and the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, farmers have needed to adapt to changing costs. Jadell Cavallin with little Waldo farms says many farmers along the north shore and in Minnesota are hurting from rising costs.” [WDIO, 6/4/26]
July 2026: Minnesota Drivers Were Paying Over $4 A Gallon For Gas. According to Bring Me The News, “Many drivers in Minnesota are paying at least $4 per gallon, with gas prices on the rise again due to the ongoing war in Iran. As of Thursday, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gas is $4.04, an 18 cent increase from $3.86 a week ago, according to AAA data. Prices at Minnesota gas stations are highest on average in the Twin Cities, where motorists are shelling out $4.12 per gallon, followed by Mankato at $4.03 and St. Cloud at $4.02.” [Bring Me The News, 7/23/26]