Navy SEAL hijacks Sunrise interview about Iran to make shock comment on Ben Roberts' Smith - leaving Nat Barr stunned

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 00:11, 8 April 2026 | Updated: 00:29, 8 April 2026 A retired US Navy SEAL has interrupted a live television interview about Donald Trump and the war in Iran to call for the release of Australia's most decorated soldier, who was arrested over alleged war crimes. Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, will face court on Wednesday after being charged with two counts of the war crime of murder and three counts of aiding or abetting the same charge. The maximum penalty for the charges is life imprisonment. The Victoria Cross recipient, who spent the night in custody, is accused of murdering unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, as well as failing to stop members of his unit from killing three others. Roberts-Smith was taken into custody by Australian Federal Police officers at Sydney Domestic Airport after arriving on a flight from Brisbane on Tuesday morning, in front of his teenage twin daughters. Former US Navy SEAL veteran turned entrepreneur Mike Sarraille appeared on Sunrise on Wednesday morning to discuss President Trump's threat that 'a whole civilisation will die' as his deadline to avoid the war from escalating in Iran looms. But as co-host Nat Barr wrapped up the interview, the Texas-based Mr Sarraille was not yet finished, issuing a pointed message to Australian authorities. 'Free Ben-Roberts-Smith!' he told a stunned Barr, as co-host Matt Shirvington changed the topic by quickly moving on to the next segment. Former US Navy SEAL veteran Mike Sarraille (right) went off script during a live interview with Sunrise host Nat Barr US Navy SEAL veteran extended his support for former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, who is accused of the murder of unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan Mr Sarraille has joined a host of high profile figures who have pledged their support for Roberts-Smith in the wake of his arrest. Others include X owner, billionaire Elon Musk, Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart, former prime minister Tony Abbott, and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. President Trump has since agreed to suspend the attack on Iran for a fortnight. Earlier in his Sunrise interview, Mr Sarraille warned that the war in Iran will likely end in the loss of civilians. 'That is the unfortunate part of war - that collateral damage does happen with these sort of strikes,' he said. 'It's not black and white. Having served for 20 years, we operate in shades of grey. And unfortunately, civilians end up in the line of fire. 'And I'm going to tell you, professional militaries like the Australian military and the US military, we do everything in our power to maintain their safety or to mitigate risk to civilians in areas where fighting is going on. 'That is part of being a professional soldier. That's part of following the rules of war.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.