Lawmakers calls Trump’s strikes on Iran ‘unconstitutional’
President Trump’s decision to greenlight attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran has sparked criticism from both sides of the aisle. Reps. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, and Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, co-sponsored the War Powers Resolution and were quick to condemn Trump’s actions as unconstitutional.
Massie, in particular, was vocal in his opposition, stating that Trump struck Iran without any authorization from Congress. He called for an immediate return to Washington D.C. to vote on the War Powers Resolution to prevent the U.S. from being dragged into another endless Middle East war. The Resolution aims to remove U.S. Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in Iran and requires Trump to terminate the deployment of American troops without congressional approval.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, Sen. Tim Kaine introduced his own war powers resolution, arguing that the American public overwhelmingly opposes war with Iran. Kaine’s resolution is privileged, meaning it must be considered by lawmakers, with a potential vote scheduled for Friday.
On Capitol Hill, Massie managed to build a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers opposed to U.S. involvement in the Middle East conflict. The bill gained support from progressive members of the “Squad,” including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, as well as conservative Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene emphasized that Americans want affordable living costs, safe communities, and quality education, not another foreign war.
The situation escalated further when Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, prompting retaliatory strikes from Iran. Trump’s decision to approve U.S. strikes against Iran further heightened tensions in the region. Despite the strikes, Iran’s ambassador to Geneva, Ali Bahreini, stated that Iran would continue to produce enriched uranium for peaceful purposes.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Congress will respond to Trump’s actions and whether the War Powers Resolution will be passed to limit further military involvement in the region. The push for peace and constitutional oversight of military actions is at the forefront of the debate among lawmakers and the public alike.
