Ashley Hinson

After saying the Iran war could become a political liability if it drags on, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson said she trusts President Donald Trump's approach to resolving the conflict.

Politico reported June 2 that Hinson, who represents northeast Iowa's 2nd District in Congress, made the "liability" comments at a Webster County meet and greet on May 28. CBS News also reported them.

"I do hope we can get this done by the next couple of weeks," Hinson said, according to Politico. "If it drags on beyond that, it's a political liability for us, too, because we've lost Iowa soldiers. I've been to four funerals since December. It's awful."

Speaking to reporters June 8, Hinson said she opposes "endless wars" but supports Trump's efforts to negotiate an end with Iran.

"My opinion is the same, that endless wars are unpopular and no one wants them, and I am grateful to the president that he’s trying to prevent one from coming to our shores, trying to keep Americans safe," she said. "And so I’m supporting his mission right now to get that negotiation done, keep those nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands."

Two Iowa soldiers, and a third with longstanding Iowa ties, were among six U.S. servicemembers killed in an Iranian attack on a U.S. facility in Kuwait on March 1, shortly after the war began. Nine more soldiers, including four Iowans, were among the wounded.

Hinson said "I have stood side by side with grieving Iowa families" and that she has talked to some of the families within the last week.

"I have stood with them, and I will continue to stand with our men and women in uniform, and I want to make sure we again continue to support the president and get this done as quickly as possible," she said. "It’s his number one priority and number one responsibility right now, and I trust him and Secretary (Marco) Rubio and our vice president to make sure we get this resolved."

Hinson voted against a resolution that passed the U.S. House June 3 seeking to block further hostilities in Iran. The vote was 215-208, with four Republicans joining Democrats to support it.

Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson Drew Myers criticized Hinson's comments about the war being a liability in a statement June 4.

"In public, Ashley Hinson has voted in support of this war, but in private, she admits it’s a massive liability," Myers said. "As families struggle to fill up their tanks and farmers see fertilizer prices skyrocket, they will remember who to blame."

Hinson won the Republican U.S. Senate primary on June 2 and will face Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek and Libertarian Thomas Laehn in the Nov. 3 general election.