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By Steven Frank
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President Donald Trump reacted to news that Democratic Senator Chris Murphy suffered a stroke, days after he called a possible administration plan for renewed military action against Iran “insane.”
After landing in Dubuque, Iowa, for a campaign rally, Trump told reporters on Sunday that he was “really surprised” to learn about the Connecticut senator's stroke. "Nobody wants to have that,” he added.
Murphy, 53, began experiencing numbness in his arm while attending his son’s hockey game Saturday afternoon, his chief of staff Allison Herwitt said in a statement.
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“He was taken to a local hospital, where it was discovered he had experienced a stroke,” Herwitt said. “He was transferred to Johns Hopkins for further monitoring and is responding well to treatment.”
Doctors were encouraged by Murphy’s progress, and he was awake and alert, Herwitt added.
“We are optimistic he will make a full recovery,” she said.
Murphy serves on the Senate's Appropriations and Foreign Relations committees and is a leading voice on immigration and gun policy. He is considered a contender for more senior leadership positions in the chamber and among the many Democrats seen as potential 2028 candidates for the White House.
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Murphy Called Possible Iran Plan ‘Insane’
Murphy said last week that he had been briefed on a possible resumption of U.S. military operations against Iran.
The Democrat discussed the briefing during a Middle East Institute event in Washington following a trip to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He said lawmakers had received a detailed description of what a renewed military campaign could look like.
Asked about the proposal, Murphy said: “Their plan is insane. It will lead to devastating escalation, and the likely destruction of our commitment to the rule of law.”
Murphy said officials had been asked by Trump to develop a plan, although he said he did not know whether they believed it would work.
“The plan that they have developed will lead, in my view, to a prolongment and an escalation of this war that will be devastating for our security interests,” Murphy said.
Murphy also addressed the issue on social media on October 29.
“Trump is reportedly planning to restart war with Iran after the election,” he wrote. “Some of us have been briefed on the war plan. And while I cannot disclose any details, I can say this: the plan is insane.”
He added that the plan “will not achieve objectives and will set off a new cycle of escalation.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, the White House recently briefed allies in the Middle East to prepare for a "short, intense military campaign" against Iran as soon as November 4, the day after the midterm elections, according to three senior Gulf Arab officials, granted anonymity to share sensitive discussions.
Trump said Friday that the Iran war “is going to be over very soon.”
Newsweek reached out to the White House and Pentagon for comment on Sunday.
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Murphy Was Campaigning Ahead of Midterms
Murphy is not on the ballot in Tuesday’s midterm elections but had been traveling in support of Democratic candidates as the party battles to regain control of Congress.
He had recently campaigned in Connecticut for Governor Ned Lamont and in Minnesota with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic Senate nominee.
Lawmakers from both parties offered messages of support following news of his stroke.
Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, who suffered a stroke while campaigning for the Senate in 2022, said his family “is rooting for Chris and his family for a full and speedy recovery.”
Several other Democratic senators have suffered strokes in recent years. Senators Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland had strokes in 2022 and recovered.
Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal described Murphy as a “great friend & colleague.”
“I know how fiercely he fights & I’m certain I’ll be welcoming him back to the Senate soon,” he said.
Republican Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska also offered prayers for Murphy.
Newsweek*’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.* Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Anthony Murray and Steven Frank.
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