Reactions are mounting after the United States and Israel launched a major military operation against Iran early Saturday following weeks of threats from President Trump.
Trump announced the assault, called “Operation Epic Fury,” in a Truth Social video, urging Iran’s military to surrender and civilians to “take over your government.” He told the Washington Post the goal was to secure freedom and safety for the Iranian people.
Congressional leaders react
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional activities “posed a clear and unacceptable threat to U.S. servicemembers, citizens in the region, and many of our allies,” praising Trump for “taking action to thwart these threats.”
“I look forward to administration officials briefing all senators about these military operations,” he said. “I commend the bravery of the servicemembers carrying out these operations and pray for the safety of those in harm’s way.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned, “Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home.” He added the administration “has not provided Congress and the American people with critical details about the scope and immediacy of the threat.”
“Confronting Iran’s malign regional activities, nuclear ambitions, and harsh oppression of the Iranian people demands American strength, resolve, regional coordination, and strategic clarity,” Schumer said. “Unfortunately, President Trump’s fitful cycles of lashing out and risking wider conflict are not a viable strategy.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson said “Iran is facing the severe consequences of its evil actions,” noting the “Gang of Eight” had been briefed in advance.
The administration “made every effort to pursue peaceful and diplomatic solutions,” Johnson said, adding Iran has long funded groups that “menaced America and American lives” and “threatened the security of the entire West.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Trump “failed to seek Congressional authorization prior to striking Iran,” warning the move “has left American troops vulnerable to Iran’s retaliatory actions.”
“Iran is a bad actor and must be aggressively confronted…” Jeffries said, but insisted Congress must authorize preemptive force. He also noted that if Iran’s nuclear program was already destroyed, “there should be no need to strike them now.”
The president “must explain itself to the American people and Congress immediately,” he said.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer called the strike “a bold, decisive act of strength by President Trump,” saying it could make “the U.S. and the world… a safer place.”
Republican reactions
Sen. Roger Wicker called the action a “pivotal and necessary operation to protect Americans and American interests.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham said the mission was “well-planned” and would be “violent, extensive and I believe, at the end of the day, successful.”
“My mind is racing with the thought that the murderous ayatollah’s regime in Iran will soon be no more…” he said, adding it could make “America more safe and eventually more prosperous.”
Sen. Tom Cotton said the “butcher’s bill has finally come due for the ayatollahs.”
Rep. Nancy Mace wrote: “President Trump understood what the weak could not bring themselves to say…”
Not all Republicans agreed. Rep. Thomas Massie said, “I am opposed to this War,” pushing for a congressional vote.
Sen. Rand Paul wrote: “As with all war, my first and purest instinct is wish Americans soldiers safety and success… But my oath of office is to the Constitution… I must oppose another Presidential war.”
Democratic reactions
Sen. Mark Warner called the strike “a deeply consequential decision that risks pulling the United States into another broad conflict in the Middle East.”
“The American people have seen this playbook before…” he said, asking: “What is the objective? What is the strategy to prevent escalation?”
Rep. Jim Himes called it “a war of choice with no strategic endgame,” warning conflict “can easily spiral.”
“It does not appear that Donald Trump has learned the lessons of history,” he said.
Sen. John Fetterman supported the strikes: “President Trump has been willing to do what’s right…”
Sen. Ruben Gallego opposed them: “Young working-class kids should not pay the ultimate price…”
Rep. Ro Khanna urged Congress to vote to stop the war, saying: “Donald Trump has launched a war on Iran.”
Sen. Tim Kaine called for an immediate vote, asking, “Has President Trump learned nothing…?”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the operation as “Trump’s war of choice,” calling it “a dangerous and unnecessary gamble.”
“He said ‘we obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear program. That, too, was a lie,” she said, urging Congress to act.
Source: CBS NEWS- Kerry Breen
Also read:Iran post Khamenei: What happens now and what it means for the nation?
