U.S. lawmakers have been divided over how to handle the downing of a U.S. drone by Iran on June 20. The split is largely along party lines. Democrats called for restraint from the Trump administration. Many were concerned that a military response could lead to a regional conflict. “The high tension wires are up in the region. We have to be strong and strategic in how we protect our interests. We cannot be reckless in what we do… I don't think the president wants to go to war. There's no appetite to go to war in our country,” said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Republicans largely condemned Iran’s actions as unprovoked and blamed the regime for escalating tensions. Most GOP members called for military readiness to send a strong message to Tehran that Washington would not accept such behavior. “Last night, Iran shot down a U.S. drone that was in international airspace. Just one more reminder about the need for cutting-edge national defense and military readiness,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in a tweet.
On June 20, President Trump called off a retaliatory strike on Iran at the last minute. Democrats expressed concern that he had ordered a military strike without the approval of Congress. They condemned such an operation as unconstitutional and an unnecessary escalation. “The idea that an American President didn’t bother to ask about civilian casualties before ordering a massive military strike, getting around to it only 600 seconds before the attack was to begin, is mind boggling. Don’t let this ever feel normal,” said Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in a tweet.
Republicans largely praised Trump’s decision to call off the strikes and avoid a military confrontation. But they urged him to continue to take a firm stance toward Tehran. “I appreciate President @realDonaldTrump's desire to be measured and thoughtful when it comes to Iranian provocations. What will the world’s response be if Iran follows through on their threat to restart nuclear enrichment? I hope the United States will make this a Red Line,” said Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in a tweet. The following are Congressional reactions to the downing of the drone and the aborted U.S. strikes.
Reaction to drone strike
Speaker of the House, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
“The high tension wires are up in the region. We have to be strong and strategic in how we protect our interests. We cannot be reckless in what we do… I don't think the president wants to go to war. There's no appetite to go to war in our country.”
––June 20, 2019 in her weekly press conference
Senate Majority Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Last night, Iran shot down a U.S. drone that was in international airspace. Just one more reminder about the need for cutting-edge national defense and military readiness. That’s exactly what the defense legislation the Senate is currently considering would help accomplish.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) June 20, 2019
Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY)
What I'd like to hear from the Administration is the clearest possible statement that the United States is not looking for war with #Iran and how we can get Iran back to the negotiating table. https://t.co/qLLEyPwC5n
— Eliot Engel (@RepEliotEngel) June 19, 2019
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
The blame for the current situation lies with the Ayatollah and his murderous henchmen, NOT the United States.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) June 20, 2019
The Iranian attack against an American drone, combined with Iranian proxies firing missiles into Saudi Arabia, is further escalation of an already tense situation.
Bernie Sanders (D-VT)
If you think the invasion of Iraq was a disaster, a war with Iran would be worse. The United States must bring Iran and Saudi Arabia to the negotiating table, not foment a never-ending, unconstitutional war in the region. https://t.co/kirVfPZb7T
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 20, 2019
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Why does #Iran matter to U.S.?
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 20, 2019
They sponsor terror & wants nukes so they can dominate MidEast
Obama thought he could bribe them to change with economic benefits & a pile of cash
But Iran used the money to build missiles & sponsor more terror
So Trump put an end to this farce
Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA)
| ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ |
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) June 20, 2019
| TRUMP & |
| POMPEO |
| NEED APPROVAL |
| FOR WAR |
| _________ |
(\__/) ||
(•ㅅ•) ||
/ づ #StopEndlessWar https://t.co/CJerMWXE3s
As Trump and Pompeo continue to provoke war with Iran, it’s more important than ever that Congress take back its authority on war and peace. We cannot continue to give the Executive Branch a blank check for endless war. #StopEndlessWar #NoIranWar https://t.co/6jmBO4nhEC
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) June 20, 2019
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR)
It’s time we reject drawing a false equivalence between our Gulf allies and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The objective of the Iranian regime from its founding has been the destruction of the USA and its citizens. It’s right there in their slogan: “Death to America.”
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 20, 2019
Iran will watch the outcome of this morning’s critical votes on arms sales in support of our friends in the Gulf, looking for signs of resolve or weakness. I urge my colleagues to send the right message.
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 20, 2019
Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX)
The Trump Administration has approached Iran in the last several months the way you would see a guy get in somebody else's face hoping that the other person punches, so that he can punch back.
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) June 20, 2019
Room for miscalculation grows by the second. @MSNBC @Morning_Joe pic.twitter.com/Ni9FlHvJOX
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Iran's actions represent the death throes of a dying regime.
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) June 20, 2019
The Iranians would like nothing more than for us to attack so they can unite their people behind a theocracy which no longer represents the people. The pressure we have placed on Iran's evil regime is working. pic.twitter.com/aWV6wHkn0i
Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL)
“I am no cheerleader for war with Iran and neither is President Trump. President Trump ran as a different kind of Republican, one that wanted to end wars, not start them. And, I think that there are a lot of other global stakeholders that need to be involved in the Strait of Hormuz before we make the United States the global policeman in that area.”
––June 20, 2019 in an interview with The Hill
Representative Andy Levin (D-MN)
It’s now more important than ever: we must advance my #AUMF Clarification Act to make clear that before the President takes any military action against Iran, he MUST get authorization from Congress. https://t.co/JkH86aEr6J
— Rep. Andy Levin (@RepAndyLevin) June 20, 2019
Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)
This attack on America over international airspace is a bridge too far and another miscalculated escalation by Iran. Desperate and weakened, the Iranian regime is playing a very dangerous game. May God be with our military.
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) June 20, 2019
Senator Tom Udall (D-NM)
John Bolton and Mike Pompeo are getting the escalation they wanted with Iran. Further missteps could lead us into a disastrous war.
— Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) June 20, 2019
Today, @timkaine, @SenJeffMerkley and I are taking to the Senate Floor to demand a vote to prevent an unconstitutional war with Iran. https://t.co/fz6sjlxOFB
Representative Steve Watkins (R-KS)
“Well, listen, obviously, kinetic action in the region is troublesome but what we really need to see is their enriched uranium program. If they continue to enrich Uranium, that will be a direct threat to our allies, including Israel. Bibi Netanyahu not going to let that go unnoticed. Now, also, another worrisome action would be if they were to continue to bomb tankers in the region, especially, particularly allies of ours.”
“We’re well-positioned militarily. We have the USS Abraham Lincoln, we have amphibious troops in the area, we have B-52 bombers, F-35s.”
––June 20, 2019 on Fox News
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Trump's Iran strategy has been a total, unmitigated disaster. He put Iran back on a path to a nuclear weapon. He needlessly put our troops in Iraq in danger. He escalated the proxy war in Yemen.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 20, 2019
Trump's goal was escalation for escalation's sake. Now he has what he asked for.
Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL)
Iran’s shooting down of an American drone is unacceptable, but we must be wary of escalation. Tehran’s behavior is very concerning and trending in a negative direction. We must work with our allies to respond appropriately and cautiously. https://t.co/Y7HKakC5L2
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogers) June 20, 2019
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)
The Trump admin left the Iran deal, imposed unnecessary sanctions, is deploying thousands of troops nearby & giving Saudi Arabia nuclear know-how. Attacking anything in int’l spaces is a problem, but Trump’s war cabinet is provoking Iran & getting the reaction Bolton+Pompeo want. https://t.co/NON7HZCklr
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) June 20, 2019
The Trump admin left the Iran deal, imposed unnecessary sanctions, is deploying thousands of troops nearby & giving Saudi Arabia nuclear know-how. Attacking anything in int’l spaces is a problem, but Trump’s war cabinet is provoking Iran & getting the reaction Bolton+Pompeo want. https://t.co/NON7HZCklr
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) June 20, 2019
Reaction to aborted Iran strike
Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
"War should always be a last resort, and war with Iran is no different. That’s why it’s so troubling that we have come so close to it at the direction of some of the exact same people that led us to war in Iraq.
If the President doesn’t like the options he has before him, he only has himself to blame. It was his decision to pull out of the Iran deal without a clue about how to replace it. It was his decision to hire John Bolton, an architect of the failed Iraq War. And it was his decision to alienate and lie to our allies so that they don’t trust us.
The President needs to think about what war means. As an Iraq War veteran, I know it means death, pain, and suffering. It is his responsibility to those he sends into battle that they are sent because there is no other option. Who can honestly say that’s where we are now?
I urge the President in the strongest terms to pull back from his current course.”
––June 21, 2019 in a statement
Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY)
“The failure to respond to this kind of direct provocation that we’ve seen now from the Iranians, in particular over the last several weeks, could in fact be a very serious mistake.”
Leaders must “recognize that weakness is provocative, and that a world in which response to attacks on American assets is to pull back, or to accept the attack, is a world in which America won’t be able to successfully defend our interests.”
––June 21, 2019, in an interview with Hugh Hewitt
Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT)
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 21, 2019
A war with Iran would be a disaster and lead to endless conflict in the region. Congress must assert its constitutional authority and stop Trump from going to war. https://t.co/9gMcxV9UOl
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 21, 2019
Speaker of the House, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
“We are in an extremely dangerous and sensitive situation with Iran. We must calibrate a response that de-escalates and advances American interests, and we must be clear as to what those interests are.
During our meeting with the President at the White House, Congressional Leaders stressed the necessity that we work with our allies and not strengthen the hand of Iran’s hardliners.
Democratic Leaders emphasized that hostilities must not be initiated without the approval of Congress.
We have no illusions about the dangerous conduct of the Iranian regime. This is a dangerous, high-tension situation that requires a strong, smart and strategic approach.”
––June 21, 2019 in a statement
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Donald Trump promised to bring our troops home. Instead he has pulled out of a deal that was working and instigated another unnecessary conflict. There is no justification for further escalating this crisis—we need to step back from the brink of war. https://t.co/roUHtzRlE8
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) June 21, 2019
Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA)
Deeply concerned that @realDonaldTrump has no idea what he is doing, especially in foreign policy.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 21, 2019
Also very troubled we are reading about these high level US decisions about Iran in the media. The national security leaks from the Trump Administration are mind boggling. https://t.co/xQ5rwOlt2x
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
I appreciate President @realDonaldTrump's desire to be measured and thoughtful when it comes to Iranian provocations.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) June 21, 2019
What will the world’s response be if Iran follows through on their threat to restart nuclear enrichment?
I hope the United States will make this a Red Line.
Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL)
We do not need to go to war with Iran over an unmanned drone until we have more information. I am done with endless, unconstitutional regime change wars in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/qMtgPBVU4P
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) June 21, 2019
Representative Max Rose (D-NY)
“Look, I commend the President for taking a step back. What we need right now is a policy of courageous restraint, one that is layered with strategy and defined objectives. What we do not need right now, and I cannot emphasize this enough, is another ‘John Bolton’ war…”
––June 21, 2019 on Morning Joe
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE)
“There have been achingly few consultations between the Administration and the Senate that laid out a strategy, that helped us understand what they view as the ‘red lines’ for escalation or for a military strike, or what the off ramps would be. At a time when our own military is still conducting, is still engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq and Syria, I just caution against our sliding into another war that might escalate beyond our control without really discussing and understanding the costs. I’m not sure that the American people are behind an escalating conflict with Iran. And, so, I’m encouraged if the Administration is acting cautiously in the face of provocation by Iran.”
––June 21, 2019 on CNBC Squawk Box
Senator Tom Udall (D-NM)
John Bolton has to go.
— Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) June 21, 2019
We were minutes away from war last night. His campaign for an unneeded military conflict is pushing us to the brink. And he’s putting troops in danger by closing off any hope of de-escalation and diplomacy.
Pres. Trump did not follow through with a strike on Iran last night, but we cannot trust such an erratic president to keep us out of war.
— Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) June 21, 2019
It’s time to uphold the Constitution and vote on my amendment to ensure we do not enter another ill-fated war in the Middle East.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
“Dear President Trump,
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am deeply concerned that your administration’s stepped up military presence in the Middle East, in conjunction with your dangerous and confusing rhetoric, may lead the United States into a protracted, costly, and unnecessary war with Iran. Such a war is not authorized, would unnecessarily risk the lives of Americans and our allies, cause enormous human suffering, and destabilize the economy.
Iran is undoubtedly an adversary that engages in dangerous behavior and had a largely unrestrained nuclear program prior to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). But you must not ignore the Constitution and subvert democracy by waging a war that does not have the support of the American people, is not authorized by their representatives, and risks American lives.
When you were sworn in as President, you inherited an Iran whose nuclear weapons ambitions were verifiably constrained for a decade or more by international agreement. A diverse coalition of countries worked together to block Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon and install an intrusive inspection regime. Unfortunately, in part due to your ill-advised decision to abandon the JCPOA, Iran is now poised to breach certain limits in the deal by the end of the month. What is more, our closest allies in Europe -- frustrated by the unilateral, unjustified nature of the withdrawal from the JCPOA -- have sought to establish measures to work around U.S. sanctions. You have shattered the strong coalition aligned against Iran in 2015 that brought Iran to the negotiating table.
Against the backdrop of your Administration’s historic missteps, your and your administration’s problematic statements, and military escalation in the Gulf region, I am deeply concerned that the nation could be dragged into a war with Iran under your leadership. You have threatened “consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before.” Your national security advisor, John Bolton, known for being one of the advocates of the Iraq War, had reportedly ordered the Pentagon to develop an earlier plan for a 120,000 troop surge in the region. He has also threatened "unrelenting force" against Iran. These statements, combined with recent deployments, raise the specter of a miscalculation and disproportionate response to Iranian aggression that could lead to another unnecessary war.
The country has been here before. The U.S. began the Iraq War based on inaccurate information from John Bolton and others who claimed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. They were mistaken then, at great cost to the nation. Eighteen years after going into Afghanistan, U.S. and allied troops are still there, despite your promise of withdrawal and long after completing their mission. And now your administration is reportedly considering using the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), passed in response to the attack on our homeland on 9/11, for a completely unrelated military action against Iran, which clearly would be outside the scope and intent of that law.
I demand that you not send U.S. armed forces into hostilities that are disproportionate and unnecessary to counter a direct attack or not authorized by Congress through a new AUMF.
I further urge that rather than embroil the U.S. in another war, you:
- a) Engage the international community in addressing the risks to navigation in the waterways close to Iran;
- b) Return the United States to the JCPOA if the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors continues to certify that Iran is in compliance with the agreement; and
- c) Require your administration officials to be clear that you are not advocating starting another war, which, this time, would be with an adversary that is better equipped than the Taliban, Saddam Hussein, or Bashar al-Assad’s forces.
Sincerely,
Kirsten Gillibrand
United States Senator”
––June 20, 2019 in a letter to the President
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)
I have strongly encouraged @realDonaldTrump to trust HIS instincts and avoid another war.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) June 21, 2019
Top aides reportedly urge Trump to go to war with Iran - Business Insider https://t.co/AlWS6wvnaz
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)
Pushed by warmonger John Bolton, President Trump abandoned the Iran deal, imposed unnecessary sanctions, re-deployed thousands of troops to the Middle East, threatened the ‘official end of Iran’, and nearly executed an unconstitutional military strike early this morning.
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) June 21, 2019
Calling off these strikes was the right outcome, but America is only in this situation with Iran because President Trump and his war cabinet have no strategy for dealing with the real threats Tehran poses to American interests.https://t.co/dMc1WEctI8
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) June 21, 2019
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT)
The idea that an American President didn’t bother to ask about civilian casualties before ordering a massive military strike, getting around to it only 600 seconds before the attack was to begin, is mind boggling.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 21, 2019
Don’t let this ever feel normal.
Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Last night was too close of a call. Congress needs to do its job and pass my amendment to prevent unnecessary war with Iran. We may be the last guardrail against Trump starting a catastrophic war in the Middle East. https://t.co/cA88IRCY9l
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) June 21, 2019
Representative Tom Cole (R-OK)
"If you're talking about responding to a series of Iranian attacks aimed at American assets and facilities, ... the War Powers Act gives him the ability to do that.”
––June 21, 2019, in a statement to The Hill
Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA)
"This administration has been going out of its way to try to provoke Iran to go to war, and I don't have a lot of confidence in the national security team that surrounds this president, and I certainly don't have any confidence in Donald Trump's ability to keep us out of war."
"His statements and his views are erratic on this, and I think ... the American people want us to be able to make sure that he doesn't start a war on an impulse,"
––June 21, 2019, in a statement to The Hill
Representative Adam Smith (D-WA)
"He wasn't sure what the right thing to do was, and he was asking his advisers to help. It's obvious: He wants to discourage Iran from doing this kind of thing. ... He does not want this to escalate to the point where there is further conflict, loss of life and an acceleration of the conflict. So how do you do that? It's a very difficult."
"That has been concerning to me from the start. You had to know that this was how Iran was going to react. Once they reacted, what were you planning on doing? And I think the answer is, they weren't sure, and that's problematic."
––June 21, 2019, in a statement to The Hill
House Majority Leader, Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
“The President said he believed a military strike at this moment would be disproportionate, and his decision to cancel the strike was the right decision. However, this Administration has failed to give Congress, the American people, or our allies any indication that it has a strategy to compel Iran to change its behavior. That must change, or else we risk provoking Iran into an avoidable war that would risk American lives and resources and put our allies, including Israel, at grave risk.
It is clear that Iran cannot be made to change its ways purely using pressure; dialogue and incentives are needed. Instead of red lines and tough rhetoric, this Administration must provide sound judgment and a concrete strategy that minimizes the risk of war. The possibility of miscalculation and escalation in the current environment is substantial. Both sides ought to take steps to deescalate and limit the chances that a miscalculation will occur.”
––June 21, 2019 in a statement
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel
If Obama had called off air strikes, the media would demand he get the Nobel Peace Prize.
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) June 21, 2019
Such a double standard.https://t.co/RZSMCXFM1O
Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX)
“MARGARET BRENNAN: I also want to ask you about Iran. You've been speaking to the White House. Was it a surprise to you that the president pulled back from this military strike?
REP. McCAUL: To some extent, yes. We were in-in invited. I commend the president for bringing in all the national security leaders in the Congress, House, Senate, bipartisan, to discuss what should we do. Now, it was- it was almost like, historically, like, almost like the Cuban Missile Crisis. You know, I can hit this island. I- I can strike Iran, but then what would be the consequences if I did that? Are there other alternatives to that? One thought was if you kill Iranians on Iranian soil, you will only aggravate the situation. The Iranians will rile up around the ayatollah and become more anti-American and they will unleash what they call the proxy war, the proxies being Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorist organizations. I think, you know, what the president did, what- he exercised restraint. He was thoughtful and measured and said, "You know what, I'm going to take a step back right now." When he found out that 150 people would be killed- take a step back and see if there's another way to get this done. We know since that time, that cyber operations have been conducted to bring down the command and control of--
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you know that--
REP. McCAUL: --of missile systems.
MARGARET BRENNAN: --it did occur?
REP McCAUL: Well, I should say it's been reported and you know that's how I have to say it. It's been reported and that's a very effective warfare game that we're playing against the Iranians. So they are getting hit. Their energy sector is crippled by the sanctions. We're going to- we're going to introduce more sanctions against Iran to get them to that place we can negotiate. I talked to Secretary Pompeo yesterday. He's traveling to the region right now to meet with coalition partners. And then there's a national security- U.N. national security meeting on Monday to talk about Iran and condemning Iran for its actions in the Straits of Hormuz.”
––June 23, 2019 on Face the Nation
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE)
“We just had a briefing last week and, frankly, a number of my colleagues asked questions right along those lines and were frustrated that there wasn’t more specific and relevant details. I can’t go into what was said in a classified setting, of course, but I’ll tell you that I left that briefing underwhelmed with the clarity of the potential scenarios that were laid out. A number of military leaders, who are not currently serving but who are former, have said publicly and pointedly that an actual full-scale war with Iran would be incredibly costly, very long and of uncertain outcome. Iran is larger, more populous, has more hardened military experience, has combat troops with experience throughout the region, so compared to Iraq, I think it would be an even harder country. If all we do is a small exchange of missiles, of jet strikes, and it remains contained, I can see how some would imagine that it would be less disastrous. The challenge is the possibility for escalation. And in the briefing and in discussions afterwards with colleagues, that’s what I have been focusing on is we don’t have a lot of running room for error here. We have other challenges in the world—North Korea, China, Russia—and we need to maintain some of the strategic flexibility and resources to tackle other challenges in the world, in addition to Iran.”
––June 24, 2019 on Morning Joe
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Mr. President, you are right: our allies and stakeholders in the Straits of Hormuz should do more.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) June 24, 2019
However, safe navigation of sea lanes -- vital to a world economy -- is always in America’s national security interest.
Protecting sea lanes is best achieved by partnerships where all the stakeholders contribute and sacrifice for peaceful navigation of the seas.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) June 24, 2019
Peace and economic prosperity are best achieved when bad actors are dealt with through international coalitions.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
The two worst foreign policy decisions of the Trump Presidency: Becoming the only nation on earth to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and walking away from the international agreement to ban the production of nuclear weapons in Iran.
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) June 21, 2019
As extreme weather beats up on us and extreme voices call for more confrontation with Iran, we are paying the price for these short sighted decisions.
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) June 21, 2019
Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)
America is facing a crisis in confidence. Obama's decision to cancel a strike in Syria in 2013 has had ramifications that are still being felt today. We cannot let the provocations and attacks by Iran go unanswered. https://t.co/AAFfnaqtZ5
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) June 21, 2019
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR)
No one is more responsible for Iran’s campaign of terror and oppression than the Ayatollah Khamenei, and no one is more deserving of these sanctions. https://t.co/5lP3b1yC1t
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 24, 2019
Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
The U.S. always retains the right to self-defense, but we owe it to our military — and ourselves, as a nation who has been at war in the Middle East for 18 years — to be responsible and exhaust all options, short of war.
— Rep. Elissa Slotkin (@RepSlotkin) June 22, 2019
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)
“ At the last possible minute President Trump did something smart on Iran Thursday night: He pulled back strikes on three Iranian targets that could have killed as many as 150 people...” https://t.co/CzpEiZGSFq
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) June 22, 2019
Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA)
The US cannot afford another costly and destabilizing war in the Middle East. Pompeo and Bolton have to stop their aggression towards Iran and work with our allies to pursue peace. #NoIranWar https://t.co/oWGRrsv5Ih
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) June 23, 2019
Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL)
“Yes, I have great respect for my fellow Floridian, Michael Waltz. He's an American patriot. But I think what's naive is believing that engaging in endless, unfocused, unconstitutional regime change wars in the Middle East is effective, either in the Middle East or back home.
I mean, you just look at Afghanistan, we are down from having the Afghan government controlling 72 percent of their administrative districts to 56 percent of their administrative districts in the last three years. And you look at the $6 trillion that we've spent in the region and you think that's larger than the market cap of Facebook, Google, and Amazon combined.
I think an American first foreign policy advanced by the president is one that would prioritize getting the gulf cartel out of the southwestern United States before we decide that we will be the policeman of the Gulf of Oman.
And if you've got Japan and Norway not seeking work for vessels owned by folks in their countries being attacked, I don't think it's the job of the United States to avenge foreign vessels or American robots, with the blood of our bravest service members and patriots, Michael Waltz being one of them.”
––June 22, 2019 on Fox News
Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA)
#nomorewars This president is up to his old tricks allowing Bolton and Pompeo to be the war hawks while he pretends to be reasonable so when he strikes Iran he can say "I tried not to strike." Real trying is diplomacy. Back off 45!
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) June 23, 2019
Trump, you get no credit for so-called stopping the strike against Iran. Why was the unmanned drone in Iran's airspace? Why the surveillance? Don't provoke and then pretend innocence.
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) June 23, 2019
Trump, you started this confrontation w/ Iran. Why did you unilaterally renege on the JCPOA agreement of the US and six other countries to avoid Iran's nuclear buildup?
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) June 23, 2019
Trump, we know you are angling for war with Iran. Stop it now. Iran was in compliance with the JCPOA. You and Netanyahu had better not try to take us to war. We don't need it & Israel doesn't need it.
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) June 23, 2019
Trump, so you are placing more sanctions on Iran. You are trying to further provoke Iran so you can strike. You're alienating the other countries who were a part of the JCPOA. How can you expect our allies to join w/ us in a war with Iran?
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) June 23, 2019
Trump, is your confrontation w/ Iran a diversionary tactic? Do you believe getting the US worrying about a war w/ Iran will overshadow growing calls for an impeachment inquiry? Trump, you are a dangerous, narcissistic, poor excuse for a leader. You deserve to be impeached.
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) June 23, 2019