President Donald Trump launched military strikes against Iran early Saturday and warned that the “lives of American heroes may be lost” in what he described as a “war,” triggering a swift backlash from lawmakers over his decision to attack without congressional authorization.
In an eight-minute video posted on Truth Social, Trump announced that “the United States military began major combat operations in Iran,” called the operation “massive and ongoing,” and suggested that “the lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties — that often happens in war.”
The statement drew immediate rebukes from lawmakers who invoked the costs of past wars in the Middle East.
“I lost friends in Iraq to an illegal war. Young working-class kids should not pay the ultimate price for regime change and a war that hasn’t been explained or justified to the American people,” Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a post on X, referencing his service as a Marine.
“We can support the democracy movement and the Iranian people without sending our troops to die,” he continued.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. — a frequent critic of the Trump administration who has called for Congress to reassert itself on the power to declare war — quickly labeled the strikes “acts of war unauthorized by Congress.”
Massie is one of the lead sponsors of a war powers resolution aimed at reining in the Trump administration’s ability to pursue military action against Iran without congressional approval.
House Democrats were poised to force votes this week on that Massie resolution, which is co-led by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. Senate Democrats were planning to force a vote on a similar resolution this week as well.
Prior to Saturday’s attack, the votes on those resolutions were expected to be close, with defections from members in both parties and chambers. Republicans have been divided over the value of an all-out push for regime change in Iran, as opposed to a limited strike. Democrats were facing defections from centrists wary of Iran’s threatening stance toward Israel. Both groups may be tested by the strikes, which the U.S. and Israel jointly conducted and which Trump suggested have the ultimate goal of toppling the Iranian regime.
“To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand,” Trump said in a video statement. “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.”
That approach may be welcomed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who earlier this week threw his weight behind a push for regime change.
“In my view, if you’re going to do something there, you better well make it about getting new leadership,” Thune told reporters Thursday.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. — a key Trump ally and critic of the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal who has advocated military action — applauded the strikes, calling them “necessary” and “long justified.”
“The end of the largest state sponsor of terrorism is upon us. God bless President Trump, our military and our allies in Israel,” Graham wrote.
In a subsequent social media post, Graham also addressed the potential for U.S. casualties, writing, “If you are injured or fall, I believe with all my heart that your sacrifice makes your country and the world a better and safer place. This moment is why you chose to serve.”
And — underscoring the cross-party disagreements on the potential for action against Iran — Pennsylvania’s Democratic Sen. John Fetterman praised the Saturday morning operation, writing, “President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region.”
But the memory of America’s decades of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan has left many lawmakers wary.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters on Tuesday that the American people “understand that under no circumstances should the Trump administration get us into another failed, foreign forever war when we know the outcome, particularly in the Middle East.”
“It’s going to cost American lives,” Jeffries said.
Jack Fitzpatrick contributed to this report.
Kevin Frey is a congressional reporter for MS NOW.
Nora McKee is the D.C. coordinator for MS NOW.