Congressional Democrats, and some Republicans, have cried foul over President Donald Trump’s ordered bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities on Saturday. Critics of the military operation claim that Trump did not have the constitutional authority to order the bombings and that it was a violation of power. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) argued to the contrary, specifically citing that Article II of the Constitution granted Trump the authority to do so.
Graham justified his decision Sunday in an interview with Kristen Welker on NBC’s Meet the Press. She asked the Republican senator if he believed Trump should have received congressional authority before the bombing. Graham responded that Trump is in charge and that the country can’t have “535 commander-in-chiefs.”
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“What do you say to your fellow members of Congress who say that President Trump should have gotten congressional approval before taking this action?” Welker asked. “Did the president violate the Constitution by acting unilaterally?”
“No, he was within his Article II authority,” Graham replied. “Congress can declare war or cut off funding. We can’t be the commander in chief. You can’t have 535 commander-in-chiefs.”
Graham then explained that Congress could vote to eliminate funding for the president’s actions. However, it is the president’s discretion to make such a decision. He also highlighted that other presidents made similar decisions regarding bombings and that when it comes to military actions, Congress is responsible for declaring war. Anyone arguing otherwise is “wrong,” according to Graham.
“If you don’t like what the president does in terms of war, you can cut off the funding,” Graham said. “But declaring war is left to the Congress. We’ve declared war five times in the history of America. All of these other military operations were lawful. He had all the authority he needs under the Constitution. They are wrong.”
Welker referenced previous military conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, when presidents sought congressional authority. Graham rationalized that those were different and referenced recent times in which the president authorized military strikes without asking for congressional authority.
“Well, there’s a lot of actions where the president didn’t go to Congress,” Graham told Welker. “This was something that had to be done quietly. Last thing you want to do is come to Congress with an attack this sensitive.”
TIM KAINE PREDICTS WAR RESOLUTION WILL GET REPUBLICAN VOTES
Much of the concern over the U.S. launching strikes on Iran is that it will eventually lead to deploying troops to fight another war in the Middle East. When asked about “boots on the ground,” Graham dismissed such a thought and believed it wouldn’t come to that. Instead, he predicted that Israel would no longer tolerate a rogue Iranian regime that is dedicated to its destruction. Rather than U.S. boots on the ground, Graham instead predicted a persistent Israel military offensive.
“I don’t think I see boots on the ground in our future, but I do see Israel not stopping,” Graham said. “Israel is not going to live this way anymore. They’re not going to be subject to missile attack every day and every night, living in bunkers. They’re going to go after the heart of this regime. They’re going to take it down one of two ways: make it change or replace it.”