Republicans on Capitol Hill swiftly rallied behind President Trump following his announcement regarding the U.S. struggles at three Iranian nuclear facilities.
In a broadcast via the True Society just before EDT at 8 PM Saturday, Trump declared that the U.S. had “completed a highly successful attack on three nuclear sites in Iran,” including the Fordow facility, which is concealed in the mountains south of Tehran. He is set to address the nation from the White House at 10 PM.
Republican leaders in both the House and Senate offered their support for these actions, which had sparked considerable debate, especially among GOP members, particularly after Israel’s recent strike on Iran’s nuclear site, referred to as the “first-take” attack.
“Military operations in Iran should serve as a clear reminder to President Trump’s enemies and allies alike that he means what he says,” stated Chairman Mike Johnson (R-La.) in a statement on X. “The president offered Iranian leaders every chance to sign contracts, yet they refused to engage in the nuclear disarmament agreement. President Trump has repeatedly stated that having Iran as a nuclear power is unacceptable, and that position is now reinforced with strength, accuracy, and clarity.”
“The president’s decisive action will prevent support for the world’s largest national terrorist attacks, and their ‘death to America’ chants will no longer gain them access to the deadliest weapon on earth,” he added. “This is America’s top priority. May God bless our brave men and women in uniform and keep them safe as the most formidable combat force on the planet.”
Johnson was informed about the strike beforehand, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke with Hill.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) expressed his support in a statement on X: “I’m standing with President Trump.”
“The Iranian regime has vowed to bring ‘death to America’ and erase Israel from the map, while constantly dismissing all diplomatic efforts toward peace. The mullahs’ false pursuit of nuclear weapons must be halted. I stand with President Trump and pray for American troops and personnel taking action tonight to ensure that nuclear weapons remain beyond Iran’s reach.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) similarly lauded Trump for his decisive action in the wake of the strike, affirming it as the “right call.”
“Iran has waged a frightening war against the United States for 46 years. They must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons in Iran. God bless our brave forces. President Trump made the righteous call,” he stated on X.
“As I have stated many times, I regret that Iran has led us to this point,” Crawford echoed in his statement. “However, President Trump has made it clear that the red lines established by presidents of both parties for decades are indeed real. Our allies, including the U.S. and Israel, are resolute that the development of Iran’s nuclear weapons will never be tolerated.”
While a majority of Republicans backed Trump following the strike, some GOP members on Capitol Hill voiced dissent.
Rep. Thomas Massey (R-Ky.), who has advocated for the U.S. to refrain from intervening in Israeli-Iranian conflicts, posted immediately after Trump’s announcement: “This is not constitutional.” Massey has spearheaded a bipartisan war powers resolution to limit American involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts.
Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) also raised concerns about the constitutionality of the action.
“While President Trump’s decision may be justified, it’s hard to conceive of a constitutional rationale. I look forward to his address tonight,” he posted on X.
Trump’s decision to target Iran’s nuclear sites followed a week of discussions on Capitol Hill regarding the appropriateness of U.S. action after Israel’s strike on Iran, leading to escalating tensions between the two nations.
On Thursday, Trump indicated he would decide on potential action within the next two weeks.
“Given that there is significant potential for negotiation with Iran coming up, I will determine my course of action in the next two weeks,” Trump stated in a message relayed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The key question remained whether the U.S. would deploy a massive bomb known as the “Bunkerbuster” to target the underground Fordow facility. While some lawmakers advocated for this approach, others, including some of Trump’s strongest supporters, opposed direct U.S. involvement.
For example, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) remarked, “I voted in November to support President Trump and his MAGA agenda, which didn’t include foreign wars.” On Saturday night, she prayed for the safety of U.S. military personnel and American citizens in the Middle East.
“With our borders having been open for the past four years and over 2 million ‘gotaways’ having entered, let’s pray that we will not face attacks from homegrown terrorists.”
Nonetheless, throughout the GOP conference on Capitol Hill, Republicans largely backed the president’s decision.
“Our Commander-in-Chief has made thoughtful and correct decisions to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian regime,” asserted Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a statement on X. “We now have a serious option to provide stable security for our citizens and allies in the Middle East. It’s well-conceived by our military. Thank you for your service!”
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the No. 3 House Republican, emphasized, “Trump was right then and is right today. It’s time for peace.”
“A nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to the Middle East and to the world. @potus has been consistent: this dangerous regime must never obtain nuclear weapons,” he added in a statement on X.
Source: thehill.com