The terrorist siege that killed at least 21 people at a hotel in Mali on Friday proves that the United States has "a president who won't acknowledge what's going on around this world and how dangerous it is," Rep. Diane Black told
Newsmax TV.
"National security is the highest level of what our responsibilities are," the Tennessee Republican told "Newsmax Prime" hosts J.D. Hayworth and Miranda Khan. "Our number one role as congressman … is to protect the American people."
Congress must act, she said, because President Barack Obama won't.
"They haven't been able to give us a plan," Black told Newsmax. "In the five years that I have been in Congress, I have yet to hear a plan from the executive branch on our national security, on how we will deal with all of these nations that we know are not our friends."
Watch Newsmax TV on
DirecTV Ch. 349, DISH Ch. 223 and
Verizon FiOS Ch. 115. Get Newsmax TV on your cable system —
Click Here Now
Legislators took that step on Thursday, with the House approving a bill that would tighten restrictions on Syrian refugees seeking to enter the United States.
Forty-seven Democrats broke with Obama and backed the legislation — ensuring that it would survive a presidential veto.
The bill has moved to the Senate for consideration.
Black was pleased her Democratic colleagues did not just roll over and support the president as their votes clearly reflect a concern for the safety in their districts. "I'm very proud that they defied the president, their own president" she said.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.