Democrats will force a vote to limit Trump on Iran, along with other Republicans

WASHINGTON — A majority of Republicans in Congress on Saturday praised a coordinated attack by the US and Israel on Iran, saying the war is the last step by President Donald Trump to stop the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear ambitions after months of failed diplomatic efforts.

But the Democrats, and this Rep. Thomas Massie and Sen. Rand Paul, both Kentucky Republicans, expressed frustration that Trump carried out the strikes without seeking congressional approval. Some have vowed to force a war powers vote in the House next week that would limit Trump’s ability to launch an attack on Iran.

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Massie, who approved the war power settlement and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., before the overnight attack, called the strikes “acts of war not authorized by Congress.”

“I’m against this War. This is not ‘America First.’ When Congress reconvenes, I will work with @RepRoKhanna to force a Congressional vote on war with Iran,” Massie wrote on X. “The Constitution needs a vote, and your Representative needs to have a record as someone who opposes or supports this war.”

Sen. Andy Kim, DN.J., said next week was not fast enough for Congress to respond to what he called the president’s “appalling actions.” Kim told NBC News’ Kristen Welker that Congress must “reconvene as soon as possible this weekend so they can vote on a military power resolution to show that this is not what the American people want.”

In a lengthy statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., questioned why Trump felt the need to carry out new military strikes against Iran when the president previously announced that his June 2025 attack “completely and completely destroyed” Iran’s nuclear program.

He said the Democrats will force a vote on Massie-Khanna’s decision when he returns to Washington.

“Iran is a bad actor and must be held accountable for its human rights abuses, nuclear ambitions, support for terrorism and the threat it poses to its allies in the region, such as Israel and Jordan,” Jeffries said. “However, given the circumstances, the Trump administration must seek authorization for the premature use of military force which is an act of war.”

The vote could be close, given the Republican minorities in the House and Senate. Unlike most legislation, a war-power resolution to limit Trump’s actions in Iran would require 51 votes in the Senate, where Republicans control 53 seats.

However, like Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, Trump’s latest round of strikes on Iran is not a black-and-white issue on Capitol Hill.

Some MAGA Republicans who were apprehensive about US involvement in the Middle East and Afghanistan have become wary of Trump’s turn to military intervention.

Asked on X if he supports Trump’s military attack on Iran, Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, responded: “No. War requires Congressional authorization.”

Davidson added that he wants a briefing on the US mission in Iran. If he is not satisfied, he said he will vote for Massie-Khanna’s decision.

Paul, a libertarian non-interventionist who has often clashed with Trump, told X that he does not support strikes.

“The Constitution has given the power to declare or start war in Congress for cause, to make war very small. … As in all wars, my first and purest feeling is to wish the American soldiers safety and success in their service,” he wrote. “But my oath of office is in the Constitution, so carefully, I must oppose another war for the President.”

Across the way, Rep. Moderate Tom Suozzi, DN.Y., co-chairman of the Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, praised Trump’s action, though he added that the president needs to come to Congress to seek military authorization under the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

“I agree with the President’s goals that Iran will never be allowed to obtain nuclear power. The President must now clearly define the national security objective and outline his plan to avoid another costly, protracted war in the Middle East,” Suozzi told X.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., a staunch supporter of Israel, is expected to join Republicans in voting against the military power resolution.

“President Trump was willing to do what was right and necessary to produce real peace in the region,” Fetterman told X. “God bless the United States, our great war, and Israel.”

Before what the administration is calling “Operation Epic Fury,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio called each member of the “Gang of Eight” group of congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., his Democratic colleagues, and senior leaders of the Intelligence Committee, said White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt.

Another member of the Gang of Eight is said to be missing.

Rubio also briefed the Gang of Eight for an hour on Tuesday about the administration’s approach to Iran, ahead of Trump’s State of the Union address, according to a White House official and a State Department official.

Separately, after the strikes began overnight, the Defense Department notified the House and Senate Armed Services committees early Saturday, those sources said.

Thune said he supports Trump’s move and expects administration officials to brief all senators on the Iran strikes. “Despite the hard efforts of the president and his administration, the Iranian government has refused to expel people who will solve these problems peacefully,” Thune said in a statement on Saturday. “I commend President Trump for taking action to stop these threats.”

Similarly, Johnson defended Trump’s actions and confirmed that he had been kept informed about the upcoming strikes throughout the week. He said he plans to stay close to Trump.

“Today, Iran is facing the dire consequences of its wrongdoings. President Trump and the Administration have made every effort to pursue peaceful and diplomatic solutions in response to the Iranian regime’s continued ambitions and advances, terrorism, and the killing of Americans—even their own people,” Johnson said in a statement.

“Iran and its proxies have endangered American and American lives, undermined our core national interests, systematically destabilized the Middle East, and threatened the security of the entire West,” the speaker said.