Lawmakers slam Trump's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as 'unconstitutional'
President Donald Trump announced late Saturday that U.S. forces launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, igniting fierce debate in Washington.
In a dramatic turn of events late Saturday, President Donald Trump declared that U.S. forces had carried out airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, sparking a heated discussion in the nation's capital about presidential authority to wage war and the potential escalation of conflicts in the Middle East.
Representative Ro Khanna, D-Calif. was quick to criticize the airstrikes, arguing that the president overstepped his authority and placed U.S. troops at risk.
"Trump struck Iran without any authorization of Congress," Khanna announced on social media platforms.
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"We need to immediately return to DC and vote on @RepThomasMassie and my War Powers Resolution to prevent America from being dragged into another endless Middle East war."
Khanna's statement followed closely behind Trump's own disclosure made via his social media channel, which stated that U.S. B-2 stealth bombers had hit Iran's Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities.
"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran," proclaimed Trump.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky also expressed opposition to the strikes made by Trump, asserting on X, along with sharing Trump's Truth Social post regarding the assault, claiming, "This is not Constitutional."
"All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home."
In addition, Trump described the offensive as a pivotal event and called for Iran to cease further aggressive actions.
The President is slated to address the nation on Friday evening, but neither the White House nor the Pentagon have released additional specifics about the operation.
Iran's state-run media has reported an assault on the Fordow facility that activated air defenses, yet details regarding potential damage or casualties have not been disclosed.
Official comments from Tehran on the alleged U.S. strikes have yet to surface.
The attack signals a significant escalation following Israel's ongoing bombardment of Iranian sites over the past several days.
Lawmakers, with Khanna among them, caution that Trump's independent actions might entangle the U.S. in an expansive regional war sans debate or congressional consent. "This is exactly why Congress must reassert its constitutional authority," Khanna argued.
"The American people deserve a voice before we are plunged into another foreign conflict."
With legislators in a rush to take action, the upcoming period will challenge the boundaries of executive war powers and the nation's readiness for another bout of conflict in the region.
Critics, including Khanna and fellow congresspersons, have sounded alarms that Trump's solitary decisions may ensnare the U.S. in a wider regional war lacking any discourse or formal approval.
"This is exactly why Congress must reassert its constitutional authority," Khanna insisted. "The American people deserve a voice before we are plunged into another foreign conflict."
As legislators rush to react, the upcoming days will challenge the boundaries of executive military authority and the country's tolerance for renewed conflict in the region.
