GOP Lawmakers Claim That Bombs Dropping On Iran Is Not War
Several Republican lawmakers have said the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran are not considered war.
Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Reps. Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Anna Paulina Luna of Florida have all declared the attack on Iran a war. (RELATED: US strategic base finds itself in crosshairs of CCP-linked country amid Iran war)
“This is not a war. We have not declared war,” Mullin said during an appearance on CNN Monday, later adding that Iran’s now-deceased Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “declared war on us. We are not at war with the Iranian people.”
Johnson echoed that position in an interview with 1017 FM radio on Monday, saying the United States is not at war with Iran. “This is not a war. We have not declared war… We are not at war with Iran. We are ensuring that they no longer have the ability to do us harm,” Johnson said.
Johnson also refused to characterize the military action as war, instead describing it as an operation or “defensive strike” that is “not a declaration of war.” He argued that Trump was “fully within his authority as commander in chief” without needing congressional approval for these actions. (RELATED: Democrats who denounced Trump’s Iran strikes say it was ‘very different’ when Obama bombed Libya)
Johnson said he believed the Trump administration “did the right thing” and spoke out Wednesday against passing a war powers resolution.
“We did the right thing. I think passing a war powers resolution would be a terrible and dangerous idea for all the reasons I just explained,” Johnson told reporters. “It would empower our enemies. It would bring our own forces to their knees, and it would remove the ability of the U.S. military and the Commander in Chief to carry out this critical mission to keep everyone safe.”
MIKE JOHNSON: “I think passing a war powers resolution right now would be a terrible and dangerous idea…It would empower our enemies, it would bring our own forces to their knees, and it would take away the ability of the United States military and the commander in chief to carry this out… pic.twitter.com/oZZoSNhfPu
– NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) March 4, 2026
Burchett also spoke about the escalating conflict in an interview with ABC News’ Rhiannon Ally. He asserted that “this is not a war” and that the United States “is in conflict with its leaders and some of its military leaders who have oppressed their own people,” citing radical Islamic acts against the Iranian population.
Luna argued that the United States is not at “war” with Iran in an interview with MS NOW’s The Weekend: Primetime on Sunday. The congresswoman argued that “targeted military strikes and invasions are two entirely different things” and objected to media characterizations by noting the absence of “boots on the ground.” (RELATED: REPORT: Israel Bombs Iranian Leaders Voting for Next Supreme Leader)
The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on a war powers resolution led by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and supported by Republican Sen. Rand Paul. The measure would require a simple majority of 51 votes to pass. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the House. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said he did not intend to support the resolution, Politico reported.
The Daily Caller reached out to Luna, Mullin and Burchett for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.
