This week, a notable division emerged among House Democrats as Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, along with several colleagues, voted against a resolution that reaffirmed Iran as the “largest state sponsor of terrorism.” The resolution, initiated by Republican Brian Mast from Florida, was passed in a 372-53 vote, with all oppositions coming from the Democratic side.

The resolution, which is nonbinding, highlighted Iran’s significant financial and military support to groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. Despite its passage, prominent progressive Democrats including Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts, Rashida Tlaib from Michigan, Summer Lee from Pennsylvania, Maxine Waters from California, Al Green from Texas, and New York’s Yvette Clarke and Nydia Velázquez joined Ocasio-Cortez and Omar in voting against it.

The White House pointed out that since 1984, administrations from both major political parties have consistently labeled Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized this position by recalling a resolution from three years ago that condemned Iran’s regime, which passed almost unanimously, save for one vote. Leavitt expressed surprise on social media platform X, noting that now, 53 House Democrats have opted not to reaffirm Iran’s status as a leading state sponsor of terrorism.

In her remarks, Leavitt attributed this change in stance to what she termed “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” suggesting that opposition to former President Donald Trump may be influencing these lawmakers’ decisions.

“Just 3 years ago, a resolution condemning the terrorist Iranian regime passed the House by a vote of 420-1,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X. “Now 53 House Democrats just refused to reaffirm that Iran remains the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. 

“Trump Derangement Syndrome is melting their brains.” 

Mast’s resolution further stated that Iran “poses a direct and persistent threat to the United States and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American citizens.”  

“Iranian-backed proxy militias are responsible for the deaths of at least 603 US service members in Iraq – roughly one in every six American combat fatalities,” the measure continued, adding that the regime has “amassed a large stockpile of enriched uranium and continues to block access to undeclared sites in Iran affiliated with their ‘big, ambitious nuclear weapons program.’” 

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) indicated that she voted against the measure because of her opposition to President Trump’s military operation against Iran. 

“Iran is obviously a state sponsor of terrorism. There’s no debate on that,” Jacobs wrote on X. “The issue is that Republicans are using this to claim that Iran is harboring Al Qaeda (sound familiar?) and is a direct and persistent threat to the US so they can legally justify this reckless war.”