Many Democratic lawmakers in the US have reacted strongly to President Donald Trump’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling the move “unconstitutional” and calling for the president to be removed from office.
President Trump last night ordered an operation dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer” that targeted three key Iranian nuclear facilities, sparking a legal and political controversy.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, said in a statement: “The President’s disastrous decision to launch strikes on Iran without Congressional authorization is a gross violation of the Constitution and Congress’ War Powers.”
“He has put our country in danger by hastily launching a war that could last for generations. This is clear grounds for impeachment.”
Rep. Sean Casten, a Republican from Illinois, also called Trump’s action “an impeachable offense,” saying: “This has nothing to do with questions about Iran’s nuclear program. No president has the right to bomb a country that is not a direct threat to the United States, without the approval of Congress.”
“He has put our country in danger by hastily starting a war that could last for generations. This is a clear reason for his impeachment.”
Rep. Sean Casten, D-Illinois, also called Trump’s action “an impeachable offense,” saying: “This has nothing to do with the question of Iran’s nuclear program. No president has the right to attack a country that is not a direct threat to the United States without the authorization of Congress.”
Casten added that Democrats no longer have the votes needed to impeach Trump, and questioned the role of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who strongly criticized the way the decision was made. Casten also acknowledged that Iran had previously succeeded in enriching nuclear material that was dangerous but not weaponized.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Republican, called Trump’s attack “unconstitutional,” saying: “I don’t agree with Congress completely transferring its power to the executive branch, even if blind members support it.”
Rep. Val Demings, a Florida senator, also called the attack illegal: “The president does not have the authority to go to war with Iran without the authorization of Congress.
The American people were not in immediate danger. To say Iran was a threat is a blatant lie. Congress, where are you? The American people deserve better than this.”
Jim Himes, a member of the House Intelligence Committee and a member of the “Gang of Eight” of bipartisan leaders and key intelligence officials, also said he had no information about the attack before it was carried out.
“The Constitution we swear by says that Congress must be informed of such decisions. This is a clear mistake,” Himes wrote on social media.
The controversy is fueling political tensions in the United States, with Democrats expected to continue to pressure the president, while his supporters see the move as a bold act of national defense. The main debate now is: Did Trump violate the Constitution, or did he fulfill his responsibility to protect national security?
More details about the attack and what happened in the hours that followed
The US attack took place on Saturday evening, with its warplanes targeting three sites critical to Iran’s nuclear program: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to the US Department of Defense, the attack specifically used heavy bombs capable of destroying underground structures, especially the Fordow facility located at the foot of a mountain.
US President Donald Trump called the strike a “historic victory,” saying it had eliminated a “major international threat.” The Iranian government confirmed the strike, but said the sites targeted were empty and that they had already removed key nuclear materials.
The situation escalated on Sunday morning, when Iran launched a series of heavy strikes on Israeli targets. Regional media reported that a number of rockets and drones had been fired at northern and central Israel, with Israel’s air defense system, known as “Iron Dome,” being activated to intercept the missiles.
The Israeli military said some of the missiles had reached their intended targets, but official casualties were not yet confirmed. Iran, meanwhile, has said it will “defend itself against any aggressor,” while Israel has threatened to respond “with greater force” if Iran’s attacks continue.
The crisis has raised fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East, with countries around the world calling for an end to the conflict and a return to the negotiating table. But Iran says it is finding it difficult to trust the West again.
