PRESS RELEASE
Hypocrisy: Rep. Crane Once Opposed Deadly, Costly "Forever Wars." His Website Update Says Otherwise
FLAGSTAFF, AZ - The Washington Post and AZMirror have reported that Congressman Eli Crane is scrambling to change his position on what he previously described as "forever wars,” after he has repeatedly voted to greenlight the deadly and expensive war in Iran.
During the 2024 election cycle, Crane stated on his campaign website that he opposed spending taxpayer dollars on prolonged overseas conflicts.
One section of the website read: "Instead of funding forever wars and throwing away money we don't have, Eli believes we should be focused on taking care of those who risked it all for our freedom."
That section of his website is now entirely gone.
Crane’s rewrite comes after he has voted at least five times to greenlight the war in Iran, which has already cost taxpayers nearly $150 billion, or $1,200 per household. The conflict has already killed 18 U.S. service members.
“Congressman Crane’s former policy of not funding ‘forever wars’ has clearly been tossed out the window as he supports a deadly and costly war with Iran at the expense of the taxpayers who elected him," said Nez. “He should understand the magnitude of wars in the Middle East and work to stop them. Instead, he has voted to continue the war. This hypocrisy proves he is not willing to stand up for his constituents. He is working for Washington elites, not for us Arizonans.”`
Crane has consistently described himself as a fiscal conservative, emphasizing the need to reduce federal “runaway budgets” and oppose excessive government expenditures.
Crane’s removal of “forever wars” language is especially notable given his past statements:
2024: Crane said when people see higher prices for gas and groceries, they wonder why the U.S. is sending billions of dollars to another war with a nuclear superpower. “CRANE: They're seeing the headlines, you know, when they pump gas or they're buying groceries, you know, they're struggling to make ends meet. They're wondering, why the hell are we sending, you know, hundreds of billions of dollars over to a country that most people can't find on a map and escalate a war with the biggest nuclear superpower in the world? Maybe we should be talking about peace talks. And and I'm seeing this right now in the in the presidential election, you know, especially with like minority men who are coming over to Donald Trump and they're like, hey, we're we're Don, we're we're tired of this stuff. And we're willing we're willing to take a look at somebody else. And so, you know, hopefully Americans don't have to experience that much more pain. But I guess we'll find out.” [Good Vibes Podcast, 34:24, 8/12/24]
2023: Crane: “We can and should continue to support our ally Israel—but we must put the safety and wellbeing of our own citizens first. We must ensure that we remain levelheaded and vigilant that we don't allow the current conflict to escalate into another forever war. As the U.S. Representative for Arizona's Second Congressional District, protecting Americans is one of my top priorities, right behind defending our God-given, unalienable rights.” [Eli Crane op-ed, 10/24/23]
2022: Crane: “It really bothers me because we continue to spend money we don’t have on, you know, protecting somebody else’s sovereignty and border.” “CRANE: And as an America first candidate, it's not that I don't have any sympathy or empathy for Ukrainians or anybody else for that matter, or want to see unchecked Russian aggression. It's just that I have to ask myself, are we putting Americans first? And I don't believe that we are. And so that's something when I continue to see us send more money that we we don't even have, we have to print this money because we already are 30, I think, $33 trillion in debt. You know, it really bothers me because we continue to spend money that we don't have on, you know, protecting somebody else's sovereignty and border.” [Clay Sexton and Buck Travis Show, 8/25/22]
Crane is scrambling to reinvent himself and cover up his broken promises just months before Election Day, when he will face the proven overperformer Nez.
SEE ALSO:
Associated Press: How views on Trump’s handling of Iran have shifted, according to a new AP-NORC poll (7/30/26)
YouTube: Iran war has cost about US$37.5 billion so far: Defense Secretary Hegseth (7/21/26)
The Guardian: Pentagon reports more than 600 Iran war casualties in quiet database update (7/26/26)