Republicans Defend Trump’s Iran Strike as Democrats Push War Powers Vote

Republican lawmakers on Monday defended U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to launch strikes on Iran, insisting the action fell squarely within his authority as commander in chief, while Democrats said the administration had failed to prove an imminent threat and pledged to pursue a war powers vote this week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed congressional leaders two days after Israeli and U.S. forces began bombing the Islamic state. Rubio told reporters ahead of the classified session that Washington believed Israel’s planned attack on Iran would prompt retaliation against U.S. forces, creating what Republicans described as an “imminent threat” requiring immediate response.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said after the briefing that Trump faced a “very difficult decision” because Israel was prepared to act with or without U.S. backing. He characterized the military action as limited in scope and objective, calling it “absolutely necessary for our defense” and predicting the operation would conclude quickly. Administration officials are scheduled to return to Capitol Hill to brief the full Senate and House of Representatives as lawmakers weigh the next steps.

Democrats, however, argued that the Constitution grants Congress — not the president — the authority to declare war, and questioned whether the administration had provided sufficient evidence of a direct and immediate threat to American interests. Senator Mark Warner said the White House had offered shifting justifications for the strikes, ranging from dismantling Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs to regime change and naval operations, without meeting the threshold for imminent danger. With six U.S. service members reported killed by Monday evening, lawmakers are expected later this week to vote on war powers resolutions that could restrict further military action absent congressional approval, though Republican majorities in both chambers have so far blocked similar efforts.

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