Trump and AOC exchange blows over impeachment push
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) sparred online with President Trump on Tuesday after she said his unilateral strikes on Iran are grounds for impeachment.
Why it matters: The debate puts Ocasio-Cortez's impeachment position in the spotlight even as other Democrats have pushed back on the idea of trying to impeach the president.
- Democrats are instead trying to force votes in the House and Senate to limit Trump from being able to carry out such strikes on Iran without congressional authorization going forward.
- Those efforts could be in doubt, however, with Iran and Israel accepting a fragile ceasefire.
Driving the news: After Ocasio-Cortez said the strikes are "absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment" on Saturday, Trump posted to Truth Social calling her "stupid" and "one of the 'dumbest' people in Congress."
- "The reason for her 'rantings' is all of the Victories that the U.S.A. has had under the Trump Administration," he wrote on Tuesday. "She can't stand the concept of our Country being successful again."
- "Instead of her constant complaining, Alexandria should go back home to Queens," he added, urging Democrats to "go ahead and try Impeaching me, again, MAKE MY DAY!"
The other side: Ocasio-Cortez shot back in a post on X, "Mr. President, don't take your anger out on me — I'm just a silly girl."
- "Take it out on whoever convinced you to betray the American people and our Constitution by illegally bombing Iran and dragging us into war," she wrote.
- "It only took you 5 months to break almost every promise you made."
Between the lines: The online tit for tat centers on whether Trump was constitutionally allowed to strike three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday without Congress voting to authorize such a provocative action.
- Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), have argued that the administration has so far failed to present evidence that Iran posed an "imminent threat" to the U.S.
- But Republicans have pushed back, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) even saying Tuesday that he thinks the War Powers Act may be unconstitutional.
