Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers are urging Congress to limit President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran, warning against deeper U.S. involvement in the escalating Middle East conflict.
Despite support from Republican leaders in both chambers for Trump’s recent attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, efforts to reassert congressional war powers face long odds. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson were briefed before the strikes, but many lawmakers were not.
Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, plans to force a Senate vote this week on a measure requiring Trump to end hostilities unless Congress declares war. In the House, Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna are pushing for similar legislation.
"This is the U.S. jumping into a war of choice at Donald Trump’s urging, without any compelling national security interest... without a debate and vote in Congress," Kaine said on CBS' "Face the Nation".
Trump’s actions have exposed divisions within his own party. Massie, a member of the pro-Trump MAGA wing, criticised the president’s decision, arguing there was no imminent threat justifying unilateral military action.
"There was no imminent threat to the United States," Massie said. "We haven’t been briefed."
Intelligence remains divided over Iran’s nuclear intentions. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Iran could build a nuclear weapon in a matter of weeks or months if it chose to. However, U.S. officials maintain that no decision has been made by Tehran to produce a bomb. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Trump responded to Massie’s criticism by pledging to support his primary challenger in 2026. "MAGA is not about lazy, grandstanding, nonproductive politicians," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Other Trump allies are also speaking out. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene voiced concern about the strikes, saying the U.S. should not get involved in what she called a "hot war that Israel started", while maintaining her broader support for Trump.
Senator Lindsey Graham defended the president’s constitutional authority, saying, "If you don’t like what the president does in terms of war, you can cut off the funding."
Most Republicans praised the attacks, with Speaker Johnson stating that Trump acted on "imminent danger" that couldn’t wait for congressional approval.
Democrats warned the mission’s success was unclear and that U.S. actions could have long-term consequences. "We triumphantly declare the mission is accomplished the day after, and then we’re left with Americans bearing the consequences for decades," said Khanna.
Members of Congress are expected to receive a full briefing on the operation on Tuesday.
Iran says its cooperation with the IAEA will continue — but under new terms and stricter oversight, following what it calls politically motivated re...
A night out in Los Angeles turned tragic when a speeding vehicle plowed into a crowd outside a club on Santa Monica Boulevard, injuring at least 30 pe...
At the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum, President Ilham Aliyev addressed participants with remarks covering Azerbaijan’s climate vision, regional conn...
Media accreditation is now open for COP30, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, set to take place in Belém, Brazil in 2025....
Several nights a week, Daria Slavytska packs a stroller with blankets, food, and a yoga mat. Then she heads into the Kyiv subway with her two-year-ol...
A fragile ceasefire has been declared in southern Syria’s Suwayda province on Saturday, following intense fighting that left hundreds dead.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 19th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The Trump administration has completed a controversial prisoner swap with Venezuela, returning around 250 deported Venezuelans in exchange for 10 American detainees.
The South Caucasus—comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia—has long been a geopolitical crossroads where regional and global powers intersect.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Germany's export slump since 2021 is largely driven by deep-rooted competitiveness issues, the Bundesbank warned in its latest report, calling for urgent structural reforms.
Israeli researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence tool that can determine a person’s true biological age from tiny DNA samples with remarkable precision.
Two Harry Potter actresses, Emma Watson and Zoe Wanamaker, have each received a six-month driving ban after separate speeding offences, both sentenced on the same day at a Buckinghamshire court.
Chinese automaker Chery has denied an industry-ministry audit that disqualified more than $53 million in state incentives for thousands of its electric and hybrid vehicles, insisting it followed official guidance and committed no fraud.
A night out in Los Angeles turned tragic when a speeding vehicle plowed into a crowd outside a club on Santa Monica Boulevard, injuring at least 30 people — seven of them critically.
Several nights a week, Daria Slavytska packs a stroller with blankets, food, and a yoga mat. Then she heads into the Kyiv subway with her two-year-old son Emil, to sleep.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels have agreed on a declaration of principles in Qatar on Saturday. The ceasefire aims to halt fighting and pave the way for broader peace talks, though major challenges remain.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that more than 300 Russian attack drones and more than 30 missiles of various types were launched against peaceful Ukrainian cities overnight, in one of the largest air assaults in recent weeks.
A mass Russian drone strike hit the Ukrainian port city of Odesa early Saturday, killing at least one resident and igniting a multi-storey apartment building, the city’s mayor said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment