Sen. Cory Booker (D): “America must be strong and smart. Today’s actions were launched by a president who has rarely proven to be either.
Let me be clear: The Iranian regime is one of the most dangerous, destabilizing forces in the Middle East. It has American blood on its hands. It has armed and supported terrorist proxies who have killed tens of thousands. It has brutalized its own people, killing thousands in recent weeks, simply for demanding basic human rights and a future free from oppression. Iran remains the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, and a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an intolerable threat to the United States, to our allies, and to global security. That outcome must never be allowed.
But none of these facts suspend our Constitution or confer upon any president the authority to unilaterally wage war. The Constitution is unambiguous: Congress alone has the power to declare war and to authorize the use of military force.
Today, Americans are feeling less safe because President Trump launched “massive and ongoing” military strikes on Iran without Congressional authorization, without meaningful consultation with lawmakers, and without presenting a credible legal justification or coherent strategy. He has taken our nation into a major military confrontation with the stated intent of regime change and in doing so has put our troops, our diplomats, and our regional partners at grave risk, while dragging the United States toward another costly and protracted conflict in the Middle East.
The president has presented no strategy for what happens if the Iranian regime collapses.
No plan for managing the inevitable power struggle among armed factions.
No plan for securing nuclear material.
No plan for preventing a humanitarian catastrophe.
No plan for protecting tens of thousands of U.S. troops and civilians across a region now on high alert.
No plan for coordinating with suddenly imperiled neighboring nations.
No plan for what comes after the bombs.
And no transparency with Congress or the American people about the human and financial costs of his military actions.
In fact, in the weeks before these attacks, even Secretary of State Rubio cautioned that no one can predict what would follow the fall of Iran’s leadership and that the risks to U.S. forces and regional stability would be enormous. These warnings were not heeded.
Military action alone cannot solve Iran’s nuclear challenge. We saw this last year when President Trump claimed he had ‘completely obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear program with a set of strikes – claims that were swiftly proven false. The American people deserve honesty, not bluster; clarity and sober judgment, not reckless adventurism in matters of national security.
The Trump administration must immediately brief Congress on the intelligence, objectives, legal basis, and long-term strategy underlying today’s action. Congress must reassert its constitutional role – not simply roll over – because war and peace cannot be left to the impulses of any one president, especially not this one.
We should have learned from the last two decades of conflict in the Middle East that wars launched without clear goals and without an end-state in mind rarely end well. They cost lives, destabilize regions, embolden adversaries, and weaken America’s moral standing.
I am grateful for the professionalism and bravery of our service members who now find themselves in harm’s way, and I pray for their safety. They are the finest fighting force in human history, willing to shoulder dangers most Americans will never see. They deserve leadership guided by strategy, grounded in law, and worthy of their sacrifice – not reckless decision making that places them in the path of escalating danger.”
Sen. Andy Kim (D): “Americans don’t want to go to war with Iran.
By launching strikes, President Trump has made the same dangerous and foolish decision President Bush did a generation ago. He put Americans in harm’s way without clearly showing there’s an imminent threat to our national security. He put the Iranian people in harm’s way by calling on them to rise up without a broad coalition of partners to assist in their protection. And Trump once again started a cycle of violence that has already escalated and could spiral out of control. This is unacceptable.
The Senate should vote on Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution immediately.
I stand ready to do so today.”
Rep. Herb Conaway Jr. (D-03): “There is much we do not know about the decision to conduct strikes against Iran taken by the President this morning. These actions have directly endangered the lives of American servicemembers and embassy personnel throughout the region. Without a clear strategy, without a full understanding of the risks to our servicemembers, and without assessing the danger of regional escalation, these strikes are reckless and risk yet another endless war in the Middle East.
I, like other Members of Congress and the American people, heard the Administration’s claims that the Iranian nuclear program had been destroyed. However, as a new member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am disappointed that this Administration has not been transparent about their actions in the region, especially the developments from today. The Iranian regime has proven to be brutal. It has repeatedly repressed its own people and killed thousands of protestors. Their malign activities continue to destabilize the region. However, as a veteran, especially as someone who served in the Medical Corps, I understand how serious the implications of any decision to take military action are on our men and women in uniform.
Congress alone has the power to declare war. This military action against Iran without congressional authorization is illegal. As soon as Congress reconvenes next week, we will vote on the bipartisan Khanna–Massie War Powers Resolution.
This resolution simply reaffirms the Constitution: if a President wants to take this nation to war with Iran, they must first come to Congress and make the case to the American people.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-05): “Today, the United States, with our key democratic ally Israel, took decisive action to defend our national security, fight terror, protect our allies, and stand with the Iranian people who have been massacred in the streets for demanding freedom from the murderous Iranian regime. I applaud the extraordinary bravery and professionalism of our servicemembers and pray for their safety as Iran and its terrorist proxies retaliate against American bases and our partners in the region.
Since 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has declared America the ‘Great Satan’ and, with cries for ‘Death to America,’ made clear its commitment to our destruction. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, the regime has relentlessly pursued a nuclear weapon and waged a campaign of terror across the Middle East — all while its own people suffer under corruption, repression, and economic collapse.
Let me be clear: Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and poses an existential threat to America. Tehran has armed, funded, and directed terrorist proxies responsible for killing Americans and attacking our servicemembers, military bases, and ships. That includes its backing of Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack, which murdered more than 1,200 innocent men, women, and children and resulted in the kidnapping of 251people, including 12 Americans.
I have requested an immediate classified briefing to review the scope of U.S. military operations, coordination with our allies, and the steps being taken to protect American citizens in the region. I expect the President to comply with the War Powers Act. Congress and the appropriate committees must be fully briefed on the strategy ahead to secure American interests, protect our allies, and create the conditions for a safer and freer future for the Iranian people.
At home, I’ve been in communication with the Governor and local law enforcement about increased patrols around religious institutions to ensure the safety of our communities here in Jersey. I am grateful for the Governor’s response and vigilance during this sensitive time.
Confronting the Iranian threat is essential to America’s national security and to global stability. The world is safer because of the courage and skill of our service members. I am praying for their safety and the safety of all of our allies who have been targeted by Iranian retaliation.”
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-06): “Trump is the warmonger. He is causing the violence. He’s not the president of peace. He’s the president of war. If America is attacked or our soldiers are put at risk, it’s because of Trump’s desire to go to war. And his refusal to ask Congress or even listen to his own advisors, is because he’s unhinged and doesn’t want cooler heads to prevail. What country will he attack next in an effort to drag America into further wars? There is a reason the Constitution gives Congress—not the President alone—the power to declare war. It’s to avoid a reckless president bombing whatever he wants.”
Rep. Rob Menendez (D-08): “No president should be able to unilaterally commit America to a war without authorization from Congress or the consent of the American people. And it is clear, Americans do not want to send our sons and daughters to go to war with Iran.
That is exactly why Congress needs to immediately reassert its war powers.
We can support Iranian democracy without starting a war that no one wants. Congress must pass a war powers resolution and stop Trump from committing us to yet another war.”
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