Democratic divides erupt after Trump strikes Iran
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A screen grab of a video released on President Trump's Truth Social account announcing combat operations in Iran on Feb. 28. Photo: US President Trump Via Truth Social/Anadolu via Getty Images
Democratic divisions on Middle East policy roared back to the surface on Saturday after the U.S. and Israel launched what President Trump described as "major combat operations" in Iran.
Why it matters: There may be enough defections from hawkish Democrats to doom a measure Democratic leadership plans to force to a vote next week reining in Trump's war powers.
- "I don't support the resolution, which would require us to completely abandon our allies," Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) told Axios.
- "The Administration returned to the practice of notifying Congress of a strike with [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio briefing the Gang of 8 last week. The strikes are an attempt to prevent further war, not to start one."
State of play: Trump announced operations in Iran early Saturday morning, vowing to "destroy their missiles," "annihilate their navy" and "ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon."
- He also said the strikes would "ensure that the region's terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces."
- Iran retaliated quickly, firing missiles at U.S. bases across the Middle East, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq.
- The Israeli Air Force also conducted strikes aimed at assassinating Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Axios' Barak Ravid reported.
What they're saying: Many Democrats reacted to the strikes with furious opposition, calling for Congress to immediately reconvene to vote on forcing Trump to seek congressional authorization for any further military action.
- "Congress was not consulted, nor was it given the opportunity to authorize the use of force. This is an unacceptable breach of its constitutional role," said Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
- Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), the hawkish chair of the center-left New Democrat Coalition, said in a statement: "Given this Administration's failure to engage Congress ... I will vote to support the War Powers Resolution coming to the floor of the House next week."
Yes, but: Other Democrats largely praised the strikes and said they simply want the administration to brief Congress moving forward.
- Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) cheered the administration's "decisive action" to "defend our national security, fight terror, protect our allies, and stand with the Iranian people."
- "The threat posed by Tehran is real and longstanding," said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) in a statement to Axios. "Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon."
- Problem Solvers Caucus co-chair Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) said in a statement posted to X: "I agree with the President's objectives that Iran can never be allowed to obtain nuclear capabilities."
What to watch: A handful of anti-interventionist House Republicans — including Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) — have said they plan to vote with Democrats in favor of the war powers resolution.
- But that crossover support may not be enough for it to pass. Landsman, Gottheimer and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) have all indicated they plan to oppose the measure.
- Another Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity out of respect for party leadership, said they plan to vote against the resolution next week, potentially putting passage out of reach with Republicans in the majority.
