Lawmakers calls Trump's strikes on Iran 'unconstitutional'

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Co-sponsors of the War Powers Resolution , Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif, and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., had been fast to criticize President Donald Trump for greenlighting assaults on three nuclear websites in Iran Saturday night time.

"This isn't constitutional," Massie stated, responding to Trump's Reality Social publish saying the strikes on Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan in Iran.

The bipartisan War Powers Resolution was launched within the Home of Representatives this week as strikes between Israel and Iran raged on, and the world stood by to see if Trump would strike.

Sources acquainted informed Fox Information Digital that each Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., had been briefed on the strikes forward of time.

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President Donald Trump speaks throughout an handle to a joint session of Congress on the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025; Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) (L) attends the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump within the Rotunda of the Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Left: WIN MCNAMEE/POOL/AFP through Getty Pictures; Proper: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Pictures)

"Trump struck Iran with none authorization of Congress. We have to instantly return to DC and vote on @RepThomasMassie and my Struggle Powers Decision to forestall America from being dragged into one other limitless Center East struggle," Khanna stated.

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This week, lawmakers sounded off on the unconstitutionality of Trump putting Iran with out congressional approval. Congress has the only real energy to declare struggle underneath Article I of the Constitution .

The Struggle Powers Decision seeks to "take away United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities within the Islamic State of Iran" and directs Trump to "terminate" the deployment of American troops in opposition to Iran with out an "licensed declaration of struggle or particular authorization to be used of navy forces in opposition to Iran."

As Trump introduced his strikes in opposition to Iran – with out congressional approval – Khanna stated representatives ought to return to Capitol Hill to forestall additional escalation.

And within the higher chamber, Sen. Tim Kaine , D-Va., launched his personal struggle powers decision forward of the bipartisan duo within the Home. Whereas the decision had been gaining steam together with his colleagues, momentum could possibly be stalled as a result of strikes. His decision is privileged, that means that lawmakers must take into account it. The earliest it could possibly be voted on is Friday.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters whereas flying aboard Air Power One en route from Calgary, Canada to Joint Base Andrews, Md., late Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Picture/Mark Schiefelbein)

Kaine argued in an announcement that "the American public is overwhelmingly against the U.S. waging struggle on Iran."

"And the Israeli International Minister admitted yesterday that Israeli bombing had set the Iranian nuclear program again ‘at the very least 2 or 3 years,'" he stated. "So, what made Trump recklessly determine to hurry and bomb right now? Horrible judgment. I'll push for all senators to vote on whether or not they're for this third idiotic Center East struggle."

This week on Capitol Hill, Massie, the conservative fiscal hawk who refused to signal onto Trump's "large, stunning invoice," constructed an unlikely bipartisan coalition of lawmakers resisting the U.S.' involvement within the Center East battle.

"This isn't our struggle. But when it had been, Congress should determine such issues in keeping with our Structure," Massie stated.

Massie, whom Trump threatened to major throughout the Home GOP megabill negotiations, invited "all members of Congress to cosponsor this decision." By Tuesday night time, the bipartisan invoice had picked up 27 cosponsors, together with progressive "Squad" members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar.

Throughout the political aisle, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., signaled her assist, writing that Americans need an inexpensive value of dwelling, protected communities and high quality training "not going into one other international struggle."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., leaves the Capitol Hill Membership after a gathering of the Home Republican Convention on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc through Getty Pictures)

"This isn't our combat," Greene doubled down on Saturday night time, earlier than Trump's Reality Social announcement.

The invoice's unique co-sponsors additionally embrace progressive Democrat Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Summer season Lee, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib, who called it unconstitutional for "Trump to go to struggle with out a vote in Congress."

White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Thursday that Trump would make his choice about whether or not to bomb Iran inside two weeks.

"We've accomplished our very profitable assault on the three Nuclear websites in Iran, together with Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are actually outdoors of Iran air house. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the first website, Fordow. All planes are safely on their means house. Congratulations to our nice American Warriors. There's not one other navy within the World that would have achieved this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thanks to your consideration to this matter," Trump stated Saturday night time.

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Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran's nuclear amenities and navy leaders final week, which the Islamic Republic thought-about a "declaration of struggle." Strikes between Israel and Iran have raged on since, as Trump stated he was contemplating whether or not to log out on U.S. strikes in opposition to Iran.

The Jewish State focused Iran's nuclear capabilities after months of failed negotiations within the area and heightened concern over Iran growing nuclear weapons.

However Ali Bahreini, Iran's ambassador to Geneva, stated Iran "will proceed to supply the enriched uranium so far as we'd like for peaceable functions," as Israel, and now the U.S., have issued strikes in opposition to Iran's nuclear capabilities.