WASHINGTON — Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, who has drawn 2028 presidential buzz, bizarrely applauded a disputed report claiming that over two dozen Iranian shadow vessels bypassed the US blockade.
“Awesome,” Murphy (D-Conn.) posted on X Monday in response to a report from the shipping journal Lloyd’s List.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell has denied the Lloyd’s List report that at least 26 Iranian-backed shadow fleet ships snuck past the US blockade President Trump began imposing last week.
After eliciting fierce blowback, the Connecticut Democrat then claimed he was merely being sarcastic.
“Ok Twitter, I can’t believe I need to clarify this but obviously Trump’s bungled mismanagement of this war is not ‘awesome,’” Murphy posted on X.
“As I have said a million times here, it’s a disaster and he should end the war immediately. My tweet was something called ‘sarcasm.’”
Murphy, 52, who has been a staunch critic of the war in Iran, has repeatedly bashed the US on the world stage over recent weeks. He trekked to Spain last week, amid the country’s row with Trump, and claimed the US is facing “the most significant threat to American democracy since the Civil War.”
“We are not on the verge of a totalitarian takeover, we are in the middle of it,” he fumed, urging worldwide progressives to “beat back the forces of fascism.”
The progressive darling’s cheering on of Iran drew a torrent of backlash from social media, with critics reminding him of Iran’s brutality.
“First of all this is false. Second, a Dem senator cheering on the number one state sponsor of terror is shameful,” Parnell sniped on X.
“Senate Democrats are expected to disagree with Republicans. But cheering for our enemy, especially for a regime that has killed so many American citizens, is beyond the pale. Democrats in Congress ought to condemn this disgusting remark,” the Senate GOP X account said.
Senate Democrats are expected to disagree with Republicans.
But cheering for our enemy, especially for a regime that has killed so many American citizens, is beyond the pale.
Democrats in Congress ought to condemn this disgusting remark. https://t.co/pKnQt5Onxs
— Senate Republicans (@SenateGOP) April 21, 2026
“‘Go Iran!’ exclaimed the United States Senator,” conservative pundit Stephen Miller jabbed.
“Go Iran!” exclaimed the United States Senator.
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) April 21, 2026
“You’re a traitor. POS,” the Libs of TikTok swiped.
“You should be removed from the Senate. You are a national security threat,” rightwing pundit Laura Loomer chided.
You should be removed from the Senate. You are a national security threat.
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) April 21, 2026
“Really is awesome to have an Iranian agent in the United States Senate. Much diversity!” Will Chamberlain, senior counsel to the Article III Project, said.
Really is awesome to have an Iranian agent in the United States Senate. Much diversity!
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) April 21, 2026
“I wonder how US troops feel about one of their elected senators actively rooting against them,” conservative pundit Ian Miles Cheong jabbed.
I wonder how US troops feel about one of their elected senators actively rooting against them.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@ianmiles) April 21, 2026
“You are a fcking TRAITOR… You have no business representing the American people,” MAGA influencers Gunther Eagleman fumed.
You are a fcking TRAITOR… You have no business representing the American people.
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) April 21, 2026
Murphy has several foreign policy-related assignments in the Senate, including spots on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
Trump began imposing a blockade on Iran last week in response to the Islamic Republic wreaking Havoc on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint, where roughly a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil flows through annually.
Pentagon officials have since revealed that the US military is intercepting Iranian vessels around the world, including in the Indo-Pacific.
