While most of the country was asleep, news of U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear sites sparked an immediate and fierce political battle in Washington. The overnight military action has drawn sharp, predictable lines in Congress, with reactions largely splitting along party lines.
Democrats were swift to condemn the attack, with many calling it an illegal act of war. Citing the 1973 War Powers Act, they argue the Trump administration acted without the required congressional authorization. The response from some Democrats was even more severe, with calls mounting for the president’s impeachment over the unauthorized military action.
Across the aisle, most Republicans rallied in support of the administration’s decision. However, a few prominent libertarian-leaning voices broke from the party line. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Congressman Thomas Massie both strongly condemned the air strikes, creating a rare crack in the GOP’s unified front.
Massie is attempting to translate his opposition into action, pushing a resolution to prevent any further military engagement with Iran without explicit approval. However, the effort faces a significant hurdle, as the Republican-controlled leadership in both the House and Senate appears unwilling to allow the resolution to come to the floor for a vote, effectively blocking any immediate legislative challenge to the White House’s military authority.
