Democrats are reacting to the United States strikes on Iran, and they’re upset that the president didn’t ask Congress’s permission first.
In a statement released on Saturday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned Iran but claimed that President Donald Trump should have sought “authorization” for the strikes from Congress.
“The framers of the United States Constitution gave Congress the sole power to declare war as the branch of government closest to the American people. Iran is a bad actor and must be aggressively confronted for its human rights violations, nuclear ambitions, support of terrorism and the threat it poses to our allies like Israel and Jordan in the region. However, absent exigent circumstances, the Trump administration must seek authorization for the preemptive use of military force that constitutes an act of war,” Jeffries said.
“If Iran’s nuclear program was ‘completely and totally obliterated’ by the military strikes in June 2025, as Donald Trump boldly proclaimed, there should be no need to strike them now,” he continued. “Equally troublesome, the advancement of security and stability in the Middle East requires more than military might, as we painfully discovered in several failed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Trump administration must explain itself to the American people and Congress immediately, provide an ironclad justification for this act of war, clearly define the national security objective and articulate a plan to avoid another costly, prolonged military quagmire in the Middle East.”
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., released a video on X, where he says he is “coming to you on a dark day.”
Watch:
Trump has launched an unnecessary, idiotic, and illegal war against Iran that puts America’s servicemembers and embassy personnel at risk. I’m calling on Congress to immediately return to vote on my War Powers Resolution that blocks war with Iran without congressional approval. pic.twitter.com/lJ2fOElCRM
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) February 28, 2026
“President Trump has initiated a completely unnecessary – in my view really, idiotic – and illegal war against Iran earlier today together with the nation of Israel,” Kaine said. “Reporting is showing the president is acknowledging this will likely cost, US troops their lives, for no reason. I first want to offer my prayers to all US servicemembers, especially those in the area and all US personnel who are working at embassies in the area whose lives have been put at risk by this completely unnecessary decision.”
“The United States had a diplomatic deal with Iran that was controlling their nuclear program. President Trump made the unusual decision to tear up that deal in his first term in office, thus abandoning diplomacy,” the lawmaker continued. “And his actions both last summer and today suggest this is a president who prefers war to diplomacy. Sending a greenlight to dictators all over the world that a stronger can invade a weaker on its own say so. I have a War Powers Resolution that I have before Congress, and I’m calling Congress to return immediately to vote on it. That basically says no war against Iran, no war against Iran unless Congress votes to approve it.”
Though not a Democrat, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is also in opposition to the action, as he stated in an X post.
I am opposed to this War.
This is not “America First.”
When Congress reconvenes, I will work with @RepRoKhanna to force a Congressional vote on war with Iran.
The Constitution requires a vote, and your Representative needs to be on record as opposing or supporting this war.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 28, 2026
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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