Reactions are pouring in after the USA and Israel introduced a significant navy operation in opposition to Iran early Saturday, following weeks of threats from President Trump.
Mr. Trump introduced the assault, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” in a video on Fact Social. He known as on Iran’s navy forces to put down their weapons and on Iran’s civilians to stand up and “take over your authorities.” Mr. Trump informed the Washington Publish that he wished to safe freedom and security for the Iranian individuals.
Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi and the chairman of the Senate Armed Companies Committee, known as the motion a “pivotal and vital operation to guard Individuals and American pursuits” and mentioned the “Iranian regime has by no means been weaker.”
Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham mentioned the operation had “been well-planned” and could be “violent, in depth and I imagine, on the finish of the day, profitable.”
“My thoughts is racing with the thought that the murderous ayatollah’s regime in Iran will quickly be no extra. The largest change within the Center East in a thousand years is upon us,” Graham, a Republican representing South Carolina, mentioned on social media. He provided prayers for anybody taking part within the operation, and mentioned the trouble will make “America extra protected and finally extra affluent.”
Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas and the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, shared an inventory of crimes dedicated by Iran and mentioned the “butcher’s invoice has lastly come due for the ayatollahs.”
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, a Democrat and vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, known as the navy operation “a deeply consequential determination that dangers pulling the USA into one other broad battle within the Center East.”
He condemned the Iranian regime for supporting terrorism and undermining regional stability, however mentioned, “acknowledging these realities doesn’t relieve any president of the duty to behave inside the legislation, with a transparent technique, and with Congress.”
“The American individuals have seen this playbook earlier than – claims of urgency, misrepresented intelligence, and navy motion that pulls the USA into regime change and extended, pricey nation-building. We owe it to our service members, and to each American household, to make sure that we’re not repeating the errors of the previous,” Warner mentioned. “The president owes the nation clear solutions: What’s the goal? What’s the technique to stop escalation? And the way does this make Individuals safer?”
Rep. Jim Himes, a rating member of the Intelligence Committee, known as the operation “a warfare of alternative with no strategic endgame.” Himes is a member of the Gang of Eight, a bunch of eight Congressional leaders who’re legally required to be briefed on labeled intelligence issues. He was notified forward of the beginning of the operation, an individual aware of the matter informed CBS Information.
Himes mentioned that he informed Secretary of State Marco Rubio throughout that briefing that “navy motion on this area virtually by no means ends properly for the USA, and battle with Iran can simply spiral and escalate in methods we can’t anticipate.”
“It doesn’t seem that Donald Trump has realized the teachings of historical past,” Himes mentioned.
Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona and Iraq Battle veteran, criticized the operation.
“I misplaced mates in Iraq to an unlawful warfare,” Gallego mentioned on social media. “Younger working-class youngsters mustn’t pay the last word value for regime change and a warfare that hasn’t been defined or justified to the American individuals. We will help the democracy motion and the Iranian individuals with out sending our troops to die.”
Rep. Thomas Massie, a frequent critic of Mr. Trump, appeared to explain the operation as “acts of warfare unauthorized by Congress” on social media. In June 2025,
Massie launched a decision directing the president to “terminate using U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in opposition to Iran” with out an act of Congress. Democrats have been planning to compel a vote on a warfare powers decision launched by Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna.
Khanna mentioned Saturday morning that Congress “should convene on Monday” to vote on the decision “to cease this” and known as on Congressional members to share their voting plans over the weekend. Himes mentioned that Mr. Trump’s “personal assertion acknowledges that is warfare.”
“Donald Trump has launched a warfare on Iran. The Congress should reconvene on Monday to vote on Thomas Massie’s and my warfare powers decision to cease this warfare. Trump says his purpose is to topple the Iranian regime,” Khanna mentioned in a video. “However the American individuals are uninterested in regime change, wars that price us billions of {dollars} and danger our lives. We do not need to be at warfare with a rustic of 90 million individuals within the Center East.”
Sen. Tim Kaine additionally known as on the Senate to “instantly return to session” and vote on a bipartisan warfare powers decision “to dam using U.S. forces in hostilities in opposition to Iran.”
“Has President Trump realized nothing from a long time of U.S. meddling in Iran and eternally wars within the Center East? Is he too mentally incapacitated to appreciate that we had a diplomatic settlement with Iran that was conserving its nuclear program in verify, till he ripped it up throughout his first time period?” he mentioned. “For months, I’ve raised hell about the truth that the American individuals need decrease costs, no more warfare—particularly wars that are not approved by Congress, as required by the Structure, and haven’t got a transparent goal.”
Rep. Nancy Mace threw her help behind the president’s motion, writing on social media: “President Trump understood what the weak couldn’t convey themselves to say: that peace is just not present in appeasement — it’s received. The Iranian individuals have bled for his or her freedom. Their cries didn’t fall on deaf ears. Not on Trump’s watch.”
