Top Democrats in the US Congress, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, faced criticism on Saturday for what some described as restrained responses to President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran, and for appearing to delay efforts to prevent war.
Both Schumer and Jeffries questioned Trump’s decision not to seek congressional authorization and to limit briefings to lawmakers regarding the attacks. But, neither offered a strong condemnation of the military assault, which has reportedly killed hundreds, including children, and destabilized the Middle East.
Schumer, who previously worked to defeat the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump later abandoned, stated he “implored” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “be straight with Congress and the American people about the objectives of these strikes and what comes next.” He added that “Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon,” but also acknowledged that “the American people do not desire another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home.”
Jeffries, who has received campaign contributions from AIPAC, said that “Iran is a awful actor and must be aggressively confronted for its human rights violations, nuclear ambitions, support of terrorism, and the threat it poses to our allies like Israel and Jordan in the region.”
The Democratic leaders’ responses led some to believe their objections to Trump’s actions were based on procedure rather than opposition to war.
Claire Valdez, a New York state assemblymember, stated that Schumer and Jeffries’ responses “only serves Trump and the war machine,” and argued that “Democrats should speak clearly and with one voice: no war.”
Schumer and Jeffries both committed to forcing votes on War Powers resolutions, but reporting indicated that top Democrats had previously worked to slow down such efforts.
Neither Schumer nor Jeffries supported legislation last year aimed at preventing US military intervention in Iran.
The responses from the Democratic leaders contrasted with statements from other congressional Democrats, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said the American people were “dragged into a war they did not want” and that “this war is unlawful.”
Rep. Rashida Tlaib called for Congress to “stop the bloodshed” and exert its war powers, stating that “warmongering politicians from both parties support this illegal war.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Chuck Schumer say about the attacks on Iran?
Schumer said he “implored” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to be transparent with Congress and the American people regarding the objectives of the strikes. He also stated that Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, but that the American people do not want another costly war in the Middle East.
How did Hakeem Jeffries respond to the attacks?
Jeffries stated that Iran is a “bad actor” and must be confronted for its human rights violations, nuclear ambitions, support of terrorism, and threats to allies like Israel, and Jordan.
What did some critics say about the responses from Schumer and Jeffries?
Critics described the responses as “tepid” and “equivocal,” and argued that they focused on procedure rather than outright opposition to the war.
Given the ongoing military actions, what steps might Congress take next?
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