Armen Kurdian
Kurdian has no stated position on U.S. military aid to the government of Israel or U.S. aid to Palestinians, and left unanswered a 2026 questionnaire question on the U.S.-Israel relationship. His TV commentary as a retired Navy captain covered the 2023 emergency transfer of tank shells to Israel.
Kurdian, a retired Navy captain, appears often as a military analyst on NewsNation, NTD, and Fox 5, but the first search found no campaign policy position from him on U.S. military aid or weapons to the government of Israel, or on U.S. aid to Palestinians. On his 2026 iVoterGuide questionnaire he did not answer the question "Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?"
His analyst commentary touches the aid pipeline directly once: in December 2023 he discussed on NewsNation the Biden administration's emergency authority bypassing congressional review to provide 14,000 tank shells to Israel, assessing how the aid supported Israeli operations against Hamas (clip, undated video). In April 2024 he said "only the US can take out Iran's nuclear facilities" during Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
On the conflict itself he has said, as an analyst, that a lasting-peace plan for Gaza "cannot have Hamas anywhere within the equation" (February 2025) and that lasting peace depends on cutting off funding to Hamas (October 2025). These are broadcast analyses, not campaign pledges; the distinction is kept on the research page.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- 2023-12-11 [Months after October 7, 2023; analyst commentary, not a campaign position; video undated, we could not confirm his name]: On NewsNation Live, discussed the Biden administration's emergency authority to bypass congressional review and provide 14,000 tank shells to Israel, evaluating how the aid supported Israeli operations against Hamas. YouTube.
- 2024-04-21 [Current position; analyst commentary]: On NewsNation Prime, on Israeli strikes against Iranian targets: Israel was keeping focus on Iran's nuclear infrastructure; "only the US can take out Iran's nuclear facilities." NewsNation Facebook video (the page opened), YouTube (undated, name not confirmed on the page).
- No campaign policy position found on aid or arms transfers to the government of Israel, or on U.S. aid to Palestinians.
Characterization of the conflict
All items below are broadcast analyst commentary, not campaign positions. Most video sources are undated; dates are the first search’s inline dates.
- 2023-10-09 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Commentary on Israel's declaration of war after October 7. YouTube (name not confirmed on the page).
- 2023-11-13 [Months after October 7, 2023]: On hostage negotiations: international partners must apply diplomatic pressure on Arab nations holding sway over Hamas. YouTube (name unconfirmed).
- 2024-01-24 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Explained Hamas's refusal of temporary ceasefire proposals given Israel's stated objective to enter Gaza and eliminate the group. YouTube (name unconfirmed).
- 2025-02-09 [Current position]: "Any plan for the future of Gaza that is going to be a lasting peace cannot have Hamas anywhere within the equation." YouTube (name unconfirmed), NewsNation Facebook video (the page opened; this Facebook video is about the May 2025 Alexander release, so the pairing of sources to this quote is loose).
- 2025-05-11 [Current position]: Analysis of Hamas statements on the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander. NewsNation Facebook video.
- 2025-10-06 [Current position]: On NTD, warned Hamas might exploit political weakness or domestic pressure in negotiations. NTD.
- 2025-10-08 [Current position]: To Fox 5 DC: parties "closer than ever" to progress; lasting peace depends on cutting off funding to Hamas and sustained international pressure. Fox 5 DC video (page undated).
- 2026-03-05 [Current position]: On NTD, analyzed military timelines and strategic factors in the regional conflict involving Iran. YouTube (name unconfirmed).
Rhetoric and lobbying
- No record of positions on Israel-related lobbying or advocacy organizations (AIPAC, J Street, or others).
- 2026 (undated questionnaire) [Current position; verified]: Left unanswered the iVoterGuide question "Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?" iVoterGuide.
Safety and antisemitism
- No documented statements, platform positions, or actions on domestic antisemitism or Jewish community safety. Question came back empty.
Candidacy confirmation sources
- Campaign site; Ballotpedia (will not open for us; the page opened at first search). Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary to face incumbent Mike Levin.
Also in this race: Mike Levin (Democrat) · All California candidates.
See the full record →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.