Democrats buck party leaders to defend Trump’s ‘decisive action’ on Iran
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Caroline Molloy
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Caroline MolloyPresident Donald Trump’s joint strikes on Iran are exposing a divide in both parties, and several Democrats have come to the president’s defense while a handful of Republicans questioned his constitutional authority.
Trump announced U.S. and Israeli forces targeted Iranian leadership and military sites in the early hours of Saturday morning, catching millions of Americans — and the majority of lawmakers in Congress — by surprise.
A handful of House Democrats are justifying the operation, bucking most of their party who are calling the operation a reckless and illegal action. On the other hand, at least three Republican lawmakers are signaling that the news gave them some pause as of Saturday morning.
Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, said the strikes “are targeting military infrastructure — with warnings to Iranian civilians to take shelter away from these military targets.”
“I want a lasting peace for everyone in the region — from the Iranian people to the Lebanese, Palestinians, Syrians, Iraqis, Jordanians and Israelis. I hope these targeted strikes on the Iranian regime’s military assets ends the regime’s mayhem and bloodshed and makes way for this lasting peace in the region,” Landsman said.
“Thank you to our brave service members who are leading this effort, and I pray their work will finally free the people of Iran and those in the region from more violence or war.”
Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., and Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., similarly put the onus on Iran, as did Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and John Fetterman, D-Pa.
On the Republican side, Reps. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio; Thomas Massie, R-Ky.; and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., are concerned about how actions against Iran could run afoul of Congress’ own constitutional authority.
“We need a government small enough to fit within the Constitution. We need a government effective enough to solve problems and serve its own people. Or, we need a new Constitution,” Davidson posted on X.
When another user asked if he supported Trump’s actions against Iran, Davidson replied, “No. War requires congressional authorization.”
