President Donald Trump on Monday blasted Democrat lawmakers who criticized his administration's joint military action with Israel targeting Iran's authoritarian leadership and military assets, accusing them of opposing the strike simply because he ordered it.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump defended the operation as "very necessary and important" and said his political opponents would have demanded similar action had he not authorized it.
Trump wrote: "The Radical Left Democrats, a Party that has completely lost its way, are complaining bitterly about the very necessary and important attack, by the United States and Israel, on Iran.
"What most people understand is that they are only complaining BECAUSE I DID IT and, if I didn't do it, they would be screaming — Why didn't 'TRUMP' attack Iran, he should do it, IMMEDIATELY?
"There's nothing surprising about this! It's the same people that the other night at The State of the Union Address wouldn't stand for ANYBODY, including a mother who lost her beautiful daughter to an illegal alien, a Great and Brave Helicopter Pilot, who got the Congressional Medal of Honor, or a 100-year-old Veteran Warrior whose Bravery is Legend!
"The fact is, whatever I do, they will be on the opposite side. These people are SICK, CRAZY, and DEMENTED, but America, despite them all, is now BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
The president's post came as Congress this week prepares to vote on war powers resolutions seeking to limit Trump's authority to take further military action against Iran. The dual efforts in the House and Senate face uphill fights to become law.
The resolutions had been scheduled for debate and votes before Saturday's U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Now that military operations are underway, it is unclear how or whether any successful war powers resolution would immediately change the situation on the ground. Even if a resolution passes Congress, it would likely face a Trump veto.
Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., told Newsmax on Monday that he is seeing some Democrats break party ranks to voice support for Trump's action.
"You're seeing Democrats, some more moderate Democrats in Republican districts, or districts Trump won, actually saying that they support the operation," he said. "So, I think it's bipartisan support, not overwhelming bipartisan support, but bipartisan support for what the administration is doing."
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Sunday that Trump's strikes against Iran were "entirely appropriate."
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a co-sponsor of the Senate resolution, criticized the administration's actions and questioned their legality.
"The Constitution says we're not supposed to be at war without a vote of Congress," Kaine told NPR on Saturday. "The White House knew that I had a war powers resolution scheduled for vote by the Senate early next week.
"I assume they wanted to try to rush the initiation of an illegal war before Congress had a chance to vote on it.
"This is important. The lives of our troops are at risk. We ought to come back to Washington right away and vote on this."
The House resolution is sponsored by Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Sunday that a vote could be held Thursday.
"I am opposed to this War," Massie, a frequent Trump critic, wrote Saturday on X. "This is not 'America First.' When Congress reconvenes, I will work with @RepRoKhanna to force a Congressional vote on war with Iran. The Constitution requires a vote, and your Representative needs to be on record as opposing or supporting this war."
The White House has maintained that the strikes were necessary to counter threats posed by Iran's regime and to protect U.S. interests and allies in the region.
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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