WATCH: Hickenlooper Rejects Trump’s Weak, Chaotic “Iran Deal” on Senate Floor

Hickenlooper: "We're still nowhere close to a long-term nuclear deal"

Hickenlooper also called out the president's broken promises, cost-of-living emergency

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper took to the Senate floor to call out President Trump's so-called deal with Iran to end his illegal war of choice after the administration finally released details of the "memorandum of understanding" with Iran. Hickenlooper highlighted how the president's broken promises and unwanted war have left Americans facing higher prices and strengthened U.S. adversaries.

"A few hours ago, the administration finally released the details of a 'memorandum of understanding', which appears to kick the can down the road on the hard decisions needed to be made for another 60 days," Hickenlooper said in response. "What's clear is the deal he's pitching comes nowhere close to limiting Iran's ability to obtain a nuclear weapon. It's clearly nowhere near to the deal President Obama secured over a decade ago that meaningfully curbed Iran's nuclear ambitions. That is until Trump ripped it up."

Watch his speech HERE.

Still light on details, the draft agreement only secures a toll-free passage of the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, without any guarantees beyond that timeframe. It includes at least $300 billion from regional partners to help rebuild Iran. The agreement does not include any concrete details on how it will limit Iran's nuclear program.

"It's also hard to explain to Americans why the Iranian regime would get hundreds of billions of dollars in this settlement, and sanctions relief as well, all to restore access to a waterway that was free and open before Trump took us to war in the first place!"

Hickenlooper has consistently called out the president's unwanted war with Iran and voted to end it nine times.

"Not only did President Trump raise your bills, he broke another one of his campaign vows. He repeatedly promised no more expensive, deadly, foreign wars," said Hickenlooper. "We'll have spent all this money - on the war, on the aftermath, and in the future - just to be in a position where the United States is worse off before it began."

On the campaign trail, President Trump pledged to "end inflation" and bring down costs for families. However, last week, President Trump responded to a question about new data showing inflation has surged to its highest level since early 2023, saying "I love inflation."

Hickenlooper continued: "President Trump was elected to bring down prices. He pledged to 'end inflation' on day one. He promised a government that finally works for working people. Yet, President Trump's agenda can be summed up in just three letters. A.B.C. Anything But Costs."

Hickenlooper is also fighting to stop the president's corrupt agenda that has rigged the system for the Epstein class while leaving working families behind. He fought against the president's disastrous budget bill that gutted health care to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. He's doing a state-wide tour of local hospitals and clinics to meet with Coloradans and hear how they are grappling with the increasing costs of health care. He helped defeat Trump's effort to sell off millions of acres of public lands to pay for his lavish tax cuts. He is working to permanently end Trump's slush fund for Tina Peters, Proud Boys, and January 6th rioters

For a full video of Hickenlooper's remarks, click HERE. A full transcript of his remarks as prepared for delivery is available below:

"Mr. President,

Last week, President Trump was asked about the surge in inflation.

His response: 'I love the inflation.'

'I love the inflation?'

What else does he love? Does he love measles cases rising? Screwworms infecting our cattle? Record credit card debt?

The truth is the President's economy has been a disaster for Americans.

Families feel like they're getting squeezed everywhere they look.

This is a cost of living emergency.

According to a recent report by the Joint Economic Committee Minority, Coloradans have spent $3,300 more on goods and services since President Trump took office last year.

That's $416 more on rent and mortgage payments.

$310 more for groceries at the check out line as everything from ground beef to coffee has spiked.

$1,000 more in average deductibles for people on Affordable Care Act plans.

And Americans have gotten completely ripped off at the gas pump. In total, Coloradans have spent over $780 million more on gas since the beginning of President Trump's illegal war with Iran. That means Colorado families are spending $347 more than they did before the war.

Not only did President Trump raise your bills, he broke another one of his campaign vows.

He repeatedly promised no more expensive, deadly, foreign wars.

Now, we're fifteen weeks into an illegal war of choice in Iran that Trump promised would be over in 'four to five weeks.'

$100 billion later, 14 service members lost, and we're all still waiting for it to end.

A few hours ago, the administration finally released the details of a 'memorandum of understanding' with Iran, which appears to kick the can down the road on the hard choices for another 60 days. They still haven't briefed Congress, including top Republican leaders.

What's clear is the deal he's touting comes nowhere close to limiting Iran's ability to obtain a nuclear weapon. It's clearly nowhere close to the deal President Obama secured over a decade ago that meaningfully curbed Iran's nuclear ambitions until Trump pulled us out.

It's also hard to explain to Americans why the Iranian regime would get hundreds of billions of dollars and sanctions relief, all to restore access to a waterway that was free and open before Trump took us to war in the first place!

We'll have spent all this money - on the war, on the aftermath, and in the future - just to be in a position where the United States is worse off than where we were before it began.

Right before Trump bombed Iran, farmers and ranchers were preparing to plant for this season. Trump's tariffs increased the costs of farming equipment, while retaliatory tariffs reduced access to international markets for American farmers. The climate-change driven megadrought in the West made matters even worse.

As the war stretched on, farmers and ranchers reckoned with a new hurdle: diesel and fertilizer costs. Approximately one third of global fertilizer passes through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in prices rising over 40%.

These rising costs are crushing our farmers and sending grocery prices soaring for families.

President Trump was elected to bring down prices. He pledged to 'end inflation' on day one. He promised a government that finally works for working people.

Yet, President Trump's agenda can be summed up in just three letters. A.B.C.

Anything But Costs.

The cost of diesel.

The cost of fertilizer.

The cost of food, housing, and healthcare.

President Trump has plenty of time to host a UFC fight on the White House lawn. He's been laser focused on refurbishing the reflecting pool on the National Mall. And he's been unrelenting in his desire for a Department of Justice slush fund for election criminals like Tina Peters and January 6 rioters.

But he's not helping YOU.

Trump isn't unrigging the system like he promised voters.

He's rerigging it for himself and his cronies.

His family and close associates have pocketed billions while Colorado families struggle to pay their monthly bills.

His One Big Bad Betrayal Act gave billions in tax cuts to his ultra-wealthy friends and threw millions of Americans off their health care.

He sued the IRS so he doesn't have to pay taxes again, while teachers, police officers, and nurses pay their taxes every year.

While working families worry about the cost of groceries, housing, healthcare, this administration is focused on ballrooms, bombs, and billionaires.

This isn't why the American people sent us to Washington.

When I travel across Colorado I hear the same things again and again.

I can't afford to get sick.

I can't afford my rent.

I'm scared about the kind of world my kids are inheriting.

Working families don't 'love' inflation. They don't think affordability is a 'hoax.'

They are desperate for a country that works for them:

A country where Washington focuses on lowering their costs and improving their lives-not giving record tax breaks to the Epstein Class.

A country where healthcare is a right and not a privilege.

And a country where every family can afford to buy a home instead of getting outbid by Wall Street.

So while the White House focuses on their Anything But Costs agenda, we're showing up every day to build a country that works better for you, your family, and your neighbors.

Thank you Mr. President. I yield the floor."

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