Republicans widely support President Donald Trump while Democrats criticize his “major military campaign” as an undeclared war.
US President Donald Trump’s unilateral decision to launch strikes against Iran has met with a mixed response in Congress, as lawmakers have largely diverged along party lines on the issue. Democrats are now trying to stop the campaign under the War Powers Act of 1973.
The US and Israel launched the strikes on Saturday, with Trump openly saying the operation was aimed at eliminating regime change in Iran. “imminent threats” For the American people. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, more than 200 people were killed in the attack. Tehran responded by launching retaliatory strikes against targets at US bases in Israel and across the Middle East.
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Iran called the attack a clear violation of its sovereignty. Russia and China condemned it “Provoked Aggression.” The UK, France and Germany criticized Iran’s retaliatory attacks on neighboring countries, while the US and Israel stopped short of endorsing the actions.
‘decisive action’
Top Republicans in Congress have rallied behind Trump, hailing his decision as a necessary step. Senate Majority Leader John Thune accused Iran of refusing to engage in diplomacy and said the president was stalling. “Threats” Allegedly from Tehran.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker praised the call “decisive action” And one of them “Hard Decisions” Trump cited the strikes “An important and necessary operation to protect Americans and American interests.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson briefed the Trump administration on the ‘Gang of Eight’ – a group of eight congressional leaders who are legally required to be briefed on classified intelligence issues – about the strikes earlier this week, while talks with Tehran were still ongoing. However he claimed to be Washington “Made every effort” to pursue a peaceful solution by saying that Tehran is facing “Severe consequences for its evil actions.”
‘Another endless and costly war’
Democratic leaders in the House and Senate criticized Trump for not being transparent enough about the operation’s goals and strategy, arguing it could turn into a new endless war. He called for invoking a 1973 statute limiting the use of armed forces without congressional approval.
“The American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer argued in a statement that the Trump administration “Congress and the American people have not been provided with critical details about the scope and immediacy of the threat.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended Iran though “Must be countered aggressively” The White House “must gain power” From Congress for operations, it “Constitutes an act of war.”
Senator Jack Reid, the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, accused Trump of pressuring the US “To a big war with Iran” In addition “No End Game” And “Contrary to the express wishes of the American people.” He also swore “Tight Supervision” of operation.
This is not ‘America First’
Democrats are now seeking a vote on a resolution aimed at removing US military forces “From Unauthorized Hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.” It was originally introduced by Representative Thomas Massey — one of the few dissenters in the Republican camp — last summer, when Washington joined West Jerusalem in another bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic.
The resolution is based on the War Powers Act of 1973, which limits any military action not authorized by Congress to 60 days. It introduced a mechanism for Congress to compel the president to immediately terminate any unauthorized assignments. Lawmakers still need a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate to override a presidential veto.
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna urged the House to convene on Monday to vote on the resolution. Jeffries said in his statement that House Democrats “Committed to forcing a vote” On the problem. Massey took to X on Saturday to voice his opposition to the strikes and vowed to work with Khanna. “right” Vote on resolution. “It’s not ‘America First'” He wrote.
Article 1 of the US Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war. Trump defended his decision by saying the goal of the operation was to protect the American people through removal “Imminent Threats from the Iranian Regime.”
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Even as Tehran increased its uranium enrichment to 60% purity after Trump unilaterally abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal, it has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its program is for peaceful purposes. The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency and US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard also said last year there was no evidence Tehran was working on a nuclear weapon.
