Ann Wagner
Wagner wrote to the Secretary of State in May 2024 of her "profound outrage" at delays to a sale of 6,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions to Israel, saying the delay told the world U.S. commitment to allies "is hollow and unreliable."
Wagner has represented Missouri's 2nd District, in suburban St. Louis, since 2013, and co-chairs the Abraham Accords Caucus.
Her clearest action is a May 2024 letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, written as Vice Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee: "I write to express my profound outrage regarding reports that the State Department is delaying vital ammunition deliveries to Israel during a time of war, while also holding in limbo a crucial direct commercial sale of 6,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs)." She argued the delay signalled "that our nation's commitment to defend our democratic allies from Foreign Terrorist Organizations and State Sponsors of Terror is hollow and unreliable," and that the message "will not be lost on Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis," nor "in Moscow, Beijing, and Pyongyang."
The day before, she had put the same objection more bluntly: "Joe Biden is once again abandoning our strongest ally in the Middle East by withholding vital aid to Israel. These weapons are critical to ensuring Israel can fully dismantle Hamas." She said it appeared the President was "making decisions based on politics," and that withholding weapons "strengthens Hamas' position, not just militarily, but also from a negotiating standpoint."
Her recorded votes appear as badges on this card and are consistent with those statements.
Tracked votes: backed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 6 of 6 recorded votes.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2024-05-08] Her letter to Secretary of State Blinken, opened and confirmed word for word: "I write to express my profound outrage regarding reports that the State Department is delaying vital ammunition deliveries to Israel during a time of war, while also holding in limbo a crucial direct commercial sale of 6,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs). As Hamas seeks the complete eradication of the Jewish people, and Israelis live under existential threat from Iran and its proxies, the Administration's decision to delay weapons sales and deliveries to Israel tells the world that our nation's commitment to defend our democratic allies from Foreign Terrorist Organizations and State Sponsors of Terror is hollow and unreliable." And: "The 'political message' the Administration is sending is that U.S. support for our allies is wavering. This message will not be lost on Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the many other terrorist extremist groups in the region that do Iran's bidding. It will be heard as well in Moscow, Beijing, and Pyongyang." The release identifies her as Vice Chair and links the letter itself.
The research adds that the JDAMs are manufactured in her district near St. Louis. **That detail is not in the release and was not verified**, so it is not on the card, though it would be material if confirmed.
- [Position, 2024-05-07] Statement on the withholding of aid, opened and confirmed word for word: "Joe Biden is once again abandoning our strongest ally in the Middle East by withholding vital aid to Israel. These weapons are critical to ensuring Israel can fully dismantle Hamas, a terrorist organization whose sole goal is to destroy the Jewish people. It seems clear President Biden is making decisions based on politics, and not what is in the best interests of the U.S. or Israel. The withholding of weapons strengthens Hamas' position, not just militarily, but also from a negotiating standpoint."
- [After October 7, 2023-11-02] Release on voting for Israel funding, as reported saying the funding was critical to help Israel "destroy Hamas and protect its citizens against future attacks." From the weeks right after October 7; not used on the card. Not opened.
- Her recorded votes appear as badges on this card.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- No statement or documented position located.
Characterization of the conflict
- [After October 7, 2024-01-09] After a congressional delegation on hostage negotiations, opened and confirmed word for word: "The world watched the horrors that occurred in Israel on October 7th and we resolved that this evil has no place in our world. Hamas must be eradicated," said Rep. Wagner. She continued: "As Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, I went to see the situation on the ground and speak directly to international partners who are working with us to bring American hostages home." Dated 2024-01-09, inside the weeks right after October 7 by sixteen days, so it is recorded here rather than on the card.
- [After October 7, 2023-10-07] Joint Abraham Accords Caucus co-chairs' statement calling the attack "horrific, unprovoked" and a "campaign of unrelenting terror." From the weeks right after October 7, and a joint statement, so no individual quote is drawn from it.
- [Prior, 2019-09-13] After a delegation trip to Israel and the West Bank she described her view of a two-state solution as "evolving" (St. Louis Jewish Light). Prior band. Not opened.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Prior, 2015-03-03] Statement after Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress: Congress "must unequivocally demonstrate to Israel's enemies that Israel has the full support of the United States and its allies." Eleven years old, prior band.
- [Position, 2026-01-29] A Missourinet interview covering Iran among other subjects. **That host served 548 bytes to every request **, so it could not be read; nothing is taken from it.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Prior, 2019-09-13] Joined the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism. Prior band and safety context; never an answer about U.S. weapons or funding.
- [Prior, 2019-10-07] Jerusalem Post coverage of her remarks on antisemitism and Iran. Prior band.
Also in this race: Brandon Coulter Daugherty (Libertarian), John Kiehne (Independent), Fred Wellman (Democrat) · All Missouri 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.