On CNN This Morning, anti-trans activist Terry Schilling joined a panel discussing President Donald Trump's reported tense conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid ongoing conflicts involving Lebanon and Iran.

Schilling claimed that rising gas prices at $5 a gallon were causing frustration among Republicans, arguing that Trump was seeking a peace deal to exit the conflict while addressing Iran's nuclear capabilities.He suggested Israel did not want Iran to exist, which he said was complicating peace efforts.Former U.S.Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland immediately pushed back against this characterization.Sondland clarified that Israel does not oppose Iran's existence but rather objects to the current clerical regime.

He noted that Iran has approximately 90 million people, with about 88 million potentially interested in peaceful relations with Israel if not under the influence of the ruling elite controlling resources and weapons.

Schilling appeared surprised by the correction and deferred to Sondland's foreign policy expertise while reiterating his view that the conflict should end quickly for the benefit of the United States.The exchange highlighted differences between culture war commentary and established diplomatic perspectives on Middle East geopolitics.

The discussion occurred against the backdrop of Trump's efforts to balance support for Israel with broader regional stability goals, including limiting Iran's nuclear ambitions.This moment underscored ongoing tensions in U.S.foreign policy debates, where domestic political narratives sometimes clash with nuanced international realities involving key allies and adversaries in the Middle East.