While many conservatives quickly rallied around President Donald Trump following his announcement of airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, at least one prominent Republican lawmaker publicly denounced the move as unconstitutional.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a longtime critic of executive overreach, issued a stark rebuke after Trump confirmed the U.S. had bombed three key Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
“This is not Constitutional,” Massie posted on social media, referencing the lack of congressional authorization for the attack.
Massie, who has previously clashed with Trump over fiscal legislation, has been vocal in recent weeks about the need for Congress to act before the president unilaterally engages in military conflict. He was planning to introduce a resolution under the War Powers Act prior to the strikes.
“This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution,” Massie wrote last week.
GOP Divided as Trump Celebrates ‘Successful’ Strikes
Despite Massie’s criticism, many high-profile Republicans applauded Trump’s decision.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) praised the operation, calling it a necessary move to eliminate a growing threat:
“Our commander-in-chief has made a deliberate — and correct — decision to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian regime. Well done to our military personnel. You’re the best!”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a longtime foreign policy hawk, also celebrated the attack:
“Good. This was the right call. The regime deserves it. Well done, President @realDonaldTrump.”
Other conservative voices, including commentator Scott Jennings, echoed that sentiment. Posting from Israel, Jennings wrote:
“The Commander-in-Chief made a righteous decision. Well done, sir.”
House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) added:
“I commend President Trump for taking decisive action and I am grateful to the U.S. service members who carried out these precise and successful strikes. I continue to pray for the safety of the forces engaged to protect the free world.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump’s shift from diplomacy to military action:
“The President gave Iran’s leader every opportunity to make a deal, but Iran refused. President Trump has been consistent and clear that a nuclear-armed Iran will not be tolerated. That posture has now been enforced with strength, precision, and clarity.”
Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), one of the GOP’s newer voices in the Senate, also backed Trump, describing the attack as “targeted” and applauding the president’s “commitment to peace.”
Deepening Internal GOP Divide
Trump’s own remarks—celebrating the strike and warning Iran not to retaliate—highlighted growing tension within the GOP’s ranks. While Trump labeled the attacks a “very successful” effort and praised U.S. forces, his long-held “America First” stance and previous criticism of U.S. interventions in the Middle East have created friction among allies and critics alike.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran… A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are now outside Iranian airspace and safely on their way home,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He later described the strikes as a “historic moment” and said Iran now had two choices: make peace, or face more destruction.
Still, some prominent conservative voices raised concerns. Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon, both influential figures among Trump’s base, have warned against deeper U.S. involvement in the Middle East. Carlson has criticized the strikes as reckless, while Bannon cautioned that it risks dragging America into another endless war.
Democrats React with Alarm—and Impeachment Threats
Democrats also strongly condemned the strikes, arguing they violated the Constitution.
Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) said,
“No president has the authority to bomb another country that does not pose an imminent threat to the U.S. without congressional approval. This is an unambiguous impeachable offense.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) echoed those sentiments:
“The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”
What Comes Next?
The U.S. airstrikes mark a dramatic escalation in the already volatile Middle East situation. As Israel continues its strikes on Iranian positions and the U.S. now takes direct action, the region edges closer to broader conflict.
The legal and political implications at home are no less intense. As battle lines are drawn not just in the Middle East but in Washington, questions over executive power, military engagement, and constitutional limits are once again front and center.
