President Donald Trump is facing intense criticism from lawmakers across the political spectrum after initiating a large-scale military offensive against Iran.
In an unexpected video release early Saturday, the president revealed that the United States had embarked on a “major” campaign designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
He cautioned that the mission carries risks for American troops, acknowledging the possibility of casualties, as is often the case in warfare.
Dubbed ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ the campaign began in the early hours, with reports of explosions emerging from various locations in the Middle East.
The president warned, “Bombs will be dropping everywhere.”
The U.S. base in Bahrain, the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, was among the targets hit, prompting Iran’s Foreign Ministry to threaten retaliation against all American military installations in the region.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly informed the bipartisan congressional ‘Gang of 8’ intelligence heads shortly before the strikes.
But the administration did not seek formal congressional approval, which is a prerequisite to war, according to the US Constitution.
Trump’s unilateral action is now setting off a firestorm of criticism as lawmakers slam his ‘illegal’ strikes.
The president announced in a surprise video early Saturday that the US was engaged in a ‘major’ campaign to ensure Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon
Damage at an impact site following US and Israeli strikes on Tehran
The moment of a strike on a U.S. base in Bahrain
Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky and staunch anti-Trump lawmaker, and Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, plan to force a vote next week on their Iran War Powers resolution.
The legislation would block any action taken by the US military without prior congressional approval. It’s unclear how it would, if at all, impact Trump’s ongoing military campaign.
Massie posted on X shortly after Trump’s video address condemning the president’s ‘acts of war unauthorized by Congress.’
Khanna posted a video early Saturday calling out Trump’s ‘illegal regime change war in Iran.’
He went on to say that Congress must convene on Monday to vote on his act.
‘Every member of Congress should go on record this weekend on how they will vote,’ said Khanna.
The president has repeatedly insisted that he would not move to start another foreign war.
On the campaign trail, he pledged: ‘I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop wars.’
And since he re-entered office 13 months ago, he has the Nobel Peace Prize on his mind.
Just last week, he credited himself for ending ‘eight wars’ across the globe during his State of the Union address.
And he’s been trying to broker Ukraine-Russian peace since he started his second term, to no avail.
Others started piling on.
Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona tore into Trump after the president’s warning that US troops could be killed in the ongoing operation.
‘We can support the democracy movement and the Iranian people without sending our troops to die,’ he wrote in a scathing post to X.
Democratic Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey stated, ‘Americans don’t want to go to war with Iran.’
‘Trump once again started a cycle of violence that has already escalated and could spiral out of control. This is unacceptable.’
He went on to say that he planned to back the Senate’s version of the War Powers Act – being led by Tim Kaine.
The moment of a strike on a US base in Bahrain that houses the US Fifth Fleet headquarters
Jubilant protestors outside the Iranian Embassy in London
Former President Barack Obama’s Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes is also calling out Trump for launching an ‘illegal’ war.
‘A war that has no domestic or international legal basis. A war that Americans do not support. A war in response to no imminent threat. A pointless war,’ he wrote on X.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, a strong supporter of Israel, is offering praise for Trump’s massive military campaign.
His statement of support is rare coming from a member of the opposite political party.
