WASHINGTON — Prime GOP foreign-policy knowledgeable and Texas Rep. Michael McCaul introduced over the weekend that he gained’t run for reelection — whereas warning the world may very effectively be getting ready to World Battle III.
McCaul, 63, was the highest Republican on the Home International Affairs Committee from 2019 till the beginning of 2025, when he needed to vacate the place due to the chamber’s time period restrict on it. The 11-term retiring congressman has been a champion of conventional conservative overseas coverage views.
“It has been the honour of a lifetime to signify the individuals of central Texas and to chair the celebrated Homeland Safety and International Affairs Committees,” McCaul stated in an announcement Sunday asserting he wouldn’t run once more n 2026.
“My father’s service in World Battle II impressed me to pursue a lifetime of public service, with a concentrate on defending our nice nation in opposition to international threats, and I’ve been proud to hold out that mission in Congress for greater than 20 years.”
Throughout an interview with ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that dovetailed along with his announcement, McCaul then gave his outlook on the state of the world — and it was bleak.
“We’ve by no means seen something like this in latest instances. And so, what I’m involved about is that the escalation right here and the temperature rising, we received to be very cautious to not be on the precipice of a World Battle III,” he stated.
McCaul referenced Russia’s latest deployment of 19 drones into Poland’s airspace final week. President Trump recommended the transfer might have been a mistake, however the Texas rep dismissed that notion.
“With all deference to the president, I don’t assume that was a mistake. I feel Putin is testing the resolve of NATO,” the previous anti-terrorism prosecutor stated.
Since Russia started its brutal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, McCaul has remained a staunch supporter of Ukraine, drawing the wrath of populists similar to pundit Tucker Carlson amid rising isolationist forces within the conservative motion.
On Sunday, he brazenly solid doubt on Russian strongman Vladimir Putin’s sincerity throughout peace talks with Trump in Alaska final month.
“I by no means had any good religion anticipation of those negotiations. Putin is a KGB as soon as and all the time,” McCaul stated. “I feel he’s manipulating the president, as a KGB officer would.”
He careworn that he’s hopeful that Trump is “waking as much as the truth that Putin will not be negotiating in good religion.”
The Lone Star State Republican teased that he’s wanting towards “a brand new problem” after leaving Congress and intends to stay within the overseas coverage and nationwide safety realm.
Over the weekend, Trump known as on NATO allies to embark on a joint effort to ratchet up the sanction stress on Russia to be able to undercut funding for its conflict machine.
Along with being a number one GOP voice on overseas coverage, McCaul additionally served as the highest Republican on the Home Homeland Safety Committee from 2013 to 2019.
For many of his tenure, McCaul waltzed to victory throughout his 10 re-election bids. His closest race got here within the 2018 blue-wave 12 months, when he gained by 51.1% of the vote to Democrat Mike Siegel’s 46.8%.
The 2026 midterm election cycle is predicted to be a robust 12 months for Democrats, given historic developments of midterm cycles.
McCaul has represented Texas’s tenth District since 2005.
