Kamala Harris, our vice president, erroneously stated that “there is not one member of the United States military who is on active duty in a combat zone in any war zone around the world, the first time this century."

This would be true if we disregard the 2,500 U.S. military troops in Iraq and 900 troops in Syria who are on missions to prevent a resurgence of ISIS. There have been over 170 rocket and drone attacks against U.S. military personnel and bases in Iraq and Syria over the past year alone.

Earlier this year, three soldiers were killed and 34 others injured near the Syrian border in Jordan. Our Navy is also facing the most intense running sea battle since the Second World War while operating in the Red Sea against Houthi rebels.

Kamala Harris either thinks this isn’t combat or she blatantly doesn’t care about our troops.

Given President Biden’s cognitive decline — which resulted in the termination of his reelection bid — the vice president needs to be ready to step into the role of commander-in-chief at a moment’s notice for the remainder of the Biden-Harris administration.

Congress and the people deserve to know if she has what it takes to fill in those shoes. This is why I sent a letter to the Director of National Intelligence, White House Chief of Staff, National Security Advisor, and Vice Presidential National Security Advisor to ask what Kamala knew and how she got the impression our troops were fully out of harm's way.

This is about leadership. It's about having the backbone to command. Our troops need to know they have someone in the White House who understands the brutal realities they face every single day.

Read the letter here: