The speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
‘The butcher’s bill has finally come due for the ayatollahs. May God bless and protect our troops,’ Senator Tom Cotton wrote on X.
Congressional reaction to Saturday’s military strikes on Iran broke largely along party lines, with many Republicans expressing support for President Trump’s decision but many Democrats reacting negatively.
“Today, Iran is facing the severe consequences of its evil actions. President Trump and the Administration have made every effort to pursue peaceful and diplomatic solutions in response to the Iranian regime’s sustained nuclear ambitions and development, terrorism, and the murder of Americans — and even their own people,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said on X.
Mr. Johnson is one of eight congressional leaders, four from each party, who are who are legally entitled to receive briefings on highly classified intelligence issues.
The White House spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, said the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, had notified seven of the eight before the beginning of Saturday’s attacks. The eighth member, who could not be reached, was not identified.
“We can never allow the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism to have a nuclear weapon,” Congressman Steve Scalise said on X. “This decisive action is yet another move by President Trump to protect the United States and sends a message to the world: never doubt America’s resolve or capacity to defend its interests.”
The Senate majority leader, John Thune, said on X that for years, “Iran’s relentless nuclear ambitions, its expanded ballistic missile inventory, and its unwavering support for terror groups in the region have posed a clear and unacceptable threat to U.S. servicemembers, citizens in the region, and many of our allies.”
“Despite the dogged efforts of the president and his administration, the Iranian regime has refused the diplomatic off-ramps that would peacefully resolve these national security concerns. I commend President Trump for taking action to thwart these threats,” he wrote.
Senator John Barrasso said on X: “I applaud President Trump for his decisive action to end the evil terrorist regime in Iran. This is peace through strength.”
Senator Lindsey Graham was also highly supportive of the attacks. “I am confident this operation will be successful and the liberation of the long suffering people of Iran is at hand,” Mr. Graham said on X. “From their liberation the path toward peace and prosperity for the region and throughout the world will be long and wide.”
Senator Tom Cotton said on X: “The butcher’s bill has finally come due for the ayatollahs. May God bless and protect our troops on this vital mission of vengeance, and justice, and safety.”
Not all Republican lawmakers, however, voiced support of the attacks.
“I am opposed to this War. This is not ‘America First’,” Congressman Thomas Massie, who is often critical of Mr. Trump, said on X. “The Constitution requires a vote, and your Representative needs to be on record as opposing or supporting this war.”
Many Democrats were critical of the president’s actions, including the House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries. “Donald Trump promised to keep America out of costly and endless foreign wars,” Mr. Jeffries said in an X post. “He is now doing the exact opposite in the Middle East.”
“Congress must vote on a War Powers resolution immediately,” Mr. Jeffries added.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar also posted on X, saying Mr. Trump “is unilaterally dragging this nation into an illegal and unjustified war with Iran without congressional authorization, without a clear objective, and without any imminent threat to the United States.”
She added: “This is a reckless abuse of power that puts both innocent civilians and American lives on the line for a conflict the American people do not want.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X: “Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home.”
He charged that the administration “has not provided Congress and the American people with critical details about the scope and immediacy of the threat.”
Mr. Schumer called on the administration to brief Congress on the attacks and called for the Senate to pass a resolution to enforce the War Powers Act. “Unfortunately, President Trump’s fitful cycles of lashing out and risking wider conflict are not a viable strategy,” he said.
“Donald Trump’s single-handedly starting another war with Iran is dangerous and illegal,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said on X: “‘America first’ doesn’t mean dragging the United States into another forever war built on lies while ignoring the needs of Americans here at home.”
Senator Tim Kaine also referred to the attack as an “illegal war.” He called for the Senate to immediately return to session and vote on a war powers resolution. “These strikes are a colossal mistake, and I pray they do not cost our sons and daughters in uniform and at embassies throughout the region their lives,” he said in a statement posted on X.
One prominent Democratic lawmaker did offer praise for the attack.
“President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region,” Senator John Fetterman said on X. “God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel.”
The Sun
