Democratic lawmakers sternly reprimanded President Donald Trump on Sunday for ordering airstrikes on Iran without consulting Congress beforehand, deeming the action unconstitutional and threatening to lead the United States into broader Middle Eastern conflict.
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin charged Trump with a Constitutional violation for circumventing Congress and unilaterally ordering a military attack. “President Trump’s actions in bombing Iran put the US on the brink of a wider war in the Middle East,” Durbin stated in a statement.
The strikes, which hit three Iranian nuclear sites, have ignited a division among Democrats. While most are calling for a vote on a war powers resolution to constrain Trump’s power, others claim that the move can even qualify for impeachment.
Progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and moderate Congressman Sean Casten were among those who condemned the president’s decision, claiming it recklessly risks long-term entanglement in the region. “Trump impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also condemned Trump, saying that his actions made American involvement in another major Middle East conflict more likely. “No president should be able to unilaterally march this country into war with erratic threats and no clear strategy,” Schumer said.
Even though Democrats condemned the absence of intelligence that justified imminent threat, some recognized Iran’s nuclear aspirations as a genuine issue. Senator Mark Warner underscored that only Congress can declare war and that Americans should have transparency and constitutional checks.
The only Democrat exception was Senator John Fetterman, who is a strong defender of Israel, and he supported the strikes and hailed Trump’s move.
Republicans widely defended Trump’s actions, but Congressman Thomas Massie cautioned that it was an act of war and demanded Congressional oversight.