WASHINGTON — Longtime Texas Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, a key figure in national security and foreign policy, announced his retirement from Congress after more than two decades of service, while issuing a stark warning about the potential for World War III amid escalating tensions with Russia.
The 63-year-old congressman, who joined the House in 2005 and previously chaired both the Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs committees, shared his decision during an appearance on ABC Sunday.
Representing a solidly Republican district stretching between Austin and Houston, McCaul said he planned to serve out the remainder of his term.
Escalating Power Tensions
McCaul’s exit comes at a critical juncture in U.S.-Russia relations, heightened by last week’s incursion of Russian drones into Poland, a NATO member.
Russia sent at least 19 drones deep into the country on Wednesday, prompting concerns over the alliance’s resolve.
Condemning the incident, McCaul rejected President Donald Trump’s assessment that it might have been inadvertent.
Trump had downplayed the event, stating, “It might have been a mistake.”
“With all deference to the president, I don’t think that was a mistake. I think Putin is testing the resolve of NATO,” McCaul said.
He went further, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of exploiting the U.S. leadership.
“I think [Vladimir Putin is] manipulating the president, as a KGB officer would,” McCaul asserted, referencing Putin’s background.
Raising Red Flags
The congressman expressed deep alarm over the broader implications.
“We’ve never seen anything like this in recent times.
And so, what I’m concerned about is that the escalation here and the temperature rising, we got to be very careful not to be on the precipice of a World War III.”
McCaul, a former anti-terrorism prosecutor, voiced skepticism about ongoing negotiations between Trump and Putin aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
“I never had any good faith anticipation of these negotiations. Putin is a KGB once and always,” he said.
He reiterated his view on manipulation: “I think he’s manipulating the president, as a KGB officer would.”
On the potential for U.S. sanctions, McCaul suggested that provoking Trump could yield positive outcomes for NATO and Ukraine.
He noted, “the more Putin irritates [Trump], I think, the better we are in terms of defending NATO and Ukraine.”
Will The United States Negotiate Out of Strength?
He emphasized the need for a position of strength in any talks, stating, “The U.S. needs to negotiate ‘out of strength.’”
Trump has threatened Russia with higher sanctions and “severe consequences” if it continues the war but has not followed through, allowing deadlines to slip.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, president Donald Trump declared he was “ready to do major Sanctions on Russia,” but conditioned it on all NATO countries stopping the import of Russian oil.
Reflecting on his tenure, McCaul expressed gratitude for his service.
“It’s been an honor to serve for over two decades in the Congress,” he said.
Looking ahead, he indicated interest in continuing in related fields, stating, “I’m looking for a new challenge in the same space that would be national security and foreign policy, but just in a different realm.”
McCaul’s retirement announcement and his candid warnings underscore the volatile international landscape as the U.S. grapples with alliances, sanctions, and the specter of broader conflict.
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