#Write2Earn The extensive airstrike ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump against nuclear facilities inside Iran early Sunday sparked a political storm in Congress, amid direct accusations against him of "violating the constitution" and overstepping his powers by using military force without legislative authorization.
Prominent Democratic lawmakers considered Trump's decision to violate the constitutional provision that restricts the right to declare war to Congress, emphasizing that the president "took a dangerous step without consulting Parliament, providing clear justifications, or presenting a strategic plan for after the strike."
Statements from Democratic Party leaders
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in an official statement: "No president should drag the country into a war of this magnitude without Congress's approval. What happened is reckless without a strategy and undermines America's position instead of strengthening it."
Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Armed Services Committee, described the strike as a "massive gamble," adding: "The administration has not provided any clear vision for the next step, nor an assessment of the risks of potential escalation."
Superficial information and limited notification
The Associated Press reported that only a limited number of congressional leaders were informed in advance, including Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune, but without going through the formal consultation process or calling for an emergency session.
A spokesman for Schumer confirmed that the notification was "extremely superficial," lacking sufficient details about the nature of the strikes or their strategic objectives.
Division within the Republican Party
Although some Republican lawmakers rushed to support Trump's decision, deeming it "necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," reservations were not absent from the party ranks.
Senator John Thune said: "I stand with the president in this delicate process, and I call for the safety of our forces abroad."
However, other Republican figures expressed concern over the lack of a comprehensive plan for after the attack, which could confuse the party's unified stance, especially at a sensitive time when critical discussions are underway regarding a $350 billion national security bill.
Between necessity and the constitution
While the U.S. administration insists that the strike against Iran was "defensive and necessary," Trump's critics see it as a "clear violation of the constitution," and its repercussions will not be confined to Iranian geography but may extend to Washington itself through stormy discussions that could reshape the relationship between the executive and legislative branches.