Calls for Trump's impeachment gather momentum as president falls back on War Powers Act
Donald Trump has faced impeachment calls after Iran strikes, with lawmakers saying he bypassed Congress, risking war and violating the Constitution.
President Donald Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities without congressional approval sparked swift condemnation on Saturday, with leading lawmakers declaring the move a violation of the Constitution and grounds for impeachment.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was among the most vocal critics, warning that the president’s actions could entangle the United States in a prolonged conflict.
“The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,” she wrote in a post on social media.
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“He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s comments came hours after Trump announced that U.S. B-2 bombers targeted key Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan.
The president described the strikes as a “historic moment” for the U.S., Israel, and the world, and said Iran must “now agree to end this war.”
The administration has defended the operation as a necessary measure to safeguard national security and support Israel’s campaign against Iran’s military capabilities.
But critics argue that Trump’s unilateral action sidestepped Congress’s constitutional role in declaring war.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., echoed Ocasio-Cortez’s concerns, urging an immediate vote on a War Powers Resolution to restrict further military engagement.
“Trump struck Iran without any authorization of Congress,” Khanna said.
“We need to immediately return to DC and vote to prevent America from being dragged into another endless Middle East war.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called the strikes “reckless and unconstitutional,” while Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., warned that Trump’s actions risk igniting a wider regional conflict.
Even some conservatives expressed unease about the president’s move.
“No president can wage war unilaterally without Congress,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said, backing Khanna’s resolution to reassert legislative authority over military action.
