BREAKING: GOP Senator Who Never Served Slammed After Describing the “Smell of War” — Critics Say “Call of Duty Doesn’t Count”

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) faced strong criticism on Monday after he made comments about the “smell” of war, even though he has never served in the military, let alone been in combat.

Mullin was on Monday’s episode of America Reports, where he talked with host John Roberts about recent U.S. military actions in Iran, including the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

During the interview, Mullin praised former President Donald Trump, calling him “the first president in 47 years to actually have a backbone to do something” about the situation in Iran.

He then spoke about the harsh realities of war:

War is ugly.
It smells bad. And if anybody has ever been there and been able to smell the war that’s happening around you, and taste it, and feel it in your nostrils, and hear it, it’s something that you’ll never forget. And it’s ugly.

He also mentioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has experience in the military, saying Hegseth has a good relationship with Trump and has been involved in these matters.

Videos of Mullin’s comments quickly became the subject of mockery.
People criticized him not only for mistakenly calling Hegseth the president, but also for describing war in such an intense way, even though he had no military experience. One person said his comments were “very stolen-valor adjacent.”

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), a former Army intelligence officer who served two combat tours in Iraq, posted a harsh tweet asking Mullin, “what the actual f*ck are you talking about?”

He also questioned Mullin, writing, “Did I miss the part of your bio where you served in combat (or served in uniform at all??)
,” and added, “Call of Duty doesn’t count.”