Democrats will force a vote to limit Trump on Iran, along with some Republicans

WASHINGTON — Most congressional Republicans on Saturday welcomed the coordinated attack by the United States and Israel on Iran, arguing that war was President Donald Trump’s last resort to end the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear ambitions after months of failed diplomatic efforts.

But Democrats, as well as Rep. Thomas Massie and Sen. Rand Paul, both Kentucky Republicans, expressed frustration that Trump carried out the strikes without seeking authorization from Congress. Some have vowed to force a vote on war powers in the House next week, which would limit Trump’s ability to carry out further attacks in Iran.

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Massie, who authored the war powers resolution with Rep. Ro Khanna, Democrat of California, before the nighttime attack, called the strikes “acts of war not authorized by Congress.”

“I am opposed to this war. This is not ‘America First’. When Congress reconvenes, I will work with @RepRoKhanna to force a Congressional vote on war with Iran,” Massie wrote on X. “The Constitution requires a vote, and your representative must go on record as opposing or supporting this war.

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said next week isn’t soon enough for Congress to respond to what he called “a terrible action by this president.” Kim told NBC News’ Kristen Welker that Congress needs to “meet as soon as possible this weekend so we can vote on the war powers resolution and show that this is not something the American people want.”

In a lengthy statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., questioned why Trump felt the need to carry out new military strikes against Iran when the president had previously said his June 2025 strikes had “completely and utterly obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.

He said Democrats would force a vote on the Massie-Khanna resolution when they return to Washington.

“Iran is a bad actor and must be fought aggressively because of its human rights abuses, nuclear ambitions, support for terrorism and the threat it poses to our allies like Israel and Jordan in the region,” Jeffries said. “However, absent urgent circumstances, the Trump administration must request authorization to use military force preemptively, which constitutes an act of war. »

A vote could be close, given the slim Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Unlike most legislation, a war powers resolution to limit Trump’s actions in Iran would require just 51 votes in the Senate, where Republicans control 53 seats.

However, much like ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, Trump’s new round of strikes against Iran is not a black-and-white issue on Capitol Hill.

Some MAGA Republicans, who have spoken out against U.S. involvement in the Middle East and Afghanistan, are wary of Trump’s turn toward military interventionism.

When asked on X whether he supported Trump’s military strikes against Iran, Rep. Warren Davidson, Republican of Ohio, replied: “No. War requires authorization from Congress. »

Davidson added that he wanted a briefing explaining the U.S. mission in Iran. If he’s not satisfied, he said, he will vote for the Massie-Khanna resolution.

Paul, a libertarian-leaning non-interventionist who frequently clashes with Trump, said on X that he did not support strikes.

“The Constitution grants Congress the power to declare or initiate war for a specific reason, in order to make war less likely…As with any war, my first and purest instinct is to wish American soldiers safety and success in their mission,” he wrote. “But my oath of office is faithful to the Constitution, so with careful consideration I must oppose another presidential war.”

Across the aisle, moderate Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, praised Trump’s actions, while adding that the president must go to Congress to request military authorization under the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

“I agree with the president’s goals that Iran can never be allowed to obtain nuclear capabilities. The president must now clearly define the national security objective and articulate his plan to avoid another costly and protracted war in the Middle East,” Suozzi said on X.

Sen. John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, a strong supporter of Israel, is expected to join Republicans in voting against a war powers resolution.

“President Trump has been willing to do what is right and necessary to bring true peace to the region,” Fetterman said on X. “God bless the United States, our great military and Israel.”

Ahead of what the administration has dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio called each member of the “Gang of Eight” congressional leaders, which includes House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., their Democratic counterparts and top leaders of the Intelligence Committee, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

A member of the Gang of Eight would be unreachable.

Rubio also briefed the Gang of Eight for an hour Tuesday about the administration’s approach to Iran, ahead of Trump’s State of the Union address, according to a White House official and a State Department official.

Separately, after the strikes began overnight, the Defense Department briefed the House and Senate Armed Services Committees early Saturday morning, these sources said.

Thune said he supported Trump’s decision and hoped administration officials would brief all senators about the Iranian strikes. “Despite the strenuous efforts of the President and his administration, the Iranian regime has refused diplomatic avenues that would peacefully resolve these national security concerns,” Thune said in a statement Saturday. “I commend President Trump for taking action to thwart these threats.”

Similarly, Johnson defended Trump’s actions and confirmed that he had been kept informed of the impending strikes throughout the week. He said he plans to stay in close contact with Trump.

“Today, Iran faces serious consequences for its evil actions. President Trump and the administration have made every effort to seek peaceful and diplomatic solutions in response to the Iranian regime’s sustained nuclear ambitions and development, terrorism, and the murder of Americans – and even its own people,” Johnson said in a statement.

“Iran and its proxies have threatened America and American lives, undermined our core national interests, systematically destabilized the Middle East, and threatened the security of the entire West,” the speaker added.