Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) said “awesome” in response to news of Iranian ships evading the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, drawing heavy backlash and pushing him to clarify he was using “sarcasm.”
Murphy has been one of the most visible critics of the war with Iran in Congress, but took his critiques to another level with a post that right-wing figures determined to be a celebration of the news that 26 Iranian vessels bypassed the U.S. blockade. His post, simply reading “awesome,” was met with intense criticism, but remained up without alterations or elaboration for roughly 16 hours before he issued a clarification.
“Ok Twitter, I can’t believe I need to clarify this but obviously Trump’s bungled mismanagement of this war is not ‘awesome’. 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 wrote.
Ok Twitter, I can’t believe I need to clarify this but obviously Trump’s bungled mismanagement of this war is not “awesome”. 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”. https://t.co/aL9vSEzZC1
— Chris Murphy
(@ChrisMurphyCT) April 21, 2026
At the time of writing, the original “awesome” post had 1.3 million views but just 700 likes, compared to over 6,400 comments, nearly all of them negative. The comments bashing the post earned many times more likes than the post itself.
Conservative commentator Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson called for Murphy to be banned from all U.S. military installations in response, and called his comment “seditious.” Several others accused Murphy of treason.
The claim Murphy was originally responding to, that 26 Iranian ships had evaded the blockade, was also denied by the Trump administration.
“First of all this is false,” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in response to Murphy’s post. “Second, a Dem senator cheering on the number one state sponsor of terror is shameful.”
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“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,” the Senate Republicans X account said, calling on Democrats to condemn the remark.
Murphy’s clarification post was also received negatively, with many more comments than likes.