After days of relative quiet, Democrats have broken their collective silence to vocally condemn President Donald Trump’s Saturday night bombing of Iranian nuclear sites including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. From party bosses like Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to progressive like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Democrats across the coalition consolidated their message: the issue isn’t just about the strike itself — it’s about who holds the power to launch one.
This isn’t just about one mission against Iran — it’s about who controls the machinery of power.
While the full consequence of the bombing has yet to be seen, and whether Iran is even capable of mounting a meaningful response after the U.S. reportedly devastated its nuclear capability, the political fallout is already underway in Washington, D.C.
Congressional Democrats, once hesitant to weigh in on this national security debate, are now issuing sharp rebukes of Trump’s decision. Some members are even going as far as calling for a third impeachment.
He Doesn’t Have the Authority
The central argument among Democrats isn’t necessarily that military actions against Iran are unjustified; it’s that the president cannot do it alone.
Jeffries asserted in a statement, “President Trump misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force, and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren echoed this sentiment, calling Trump’s decision to bomb Iranian nuclear sites “unconstitutional.” She added, “This is a horrific war of choice.”
Sanders did not shy away from posting about the possibility of a strike before Trump made his decision. The senator learned of the U.S. taking action while he was speaking to a crowd behind his “Fight Oligarchy” podium, and he said Trump’s decision was “alarming” and “so grossly unconstitutional.” AOC also accu...