Virginia’s two senators are among the Democrats criticizing President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, with both Mark Warner and Tim Kaine protesting that Trump acted without congressional authorization and warning that the attack risks a wider war.
Kaine called this “horrible judgment” that could lead to a “third idiotic Middle East War.”
The Republicans who have issued statements have offered support for Trump’s decision.
Generally, Democrats focused on the lack of congressional authorization for the military action while Republicans emphasized the potential threat from Iran.
Here’s what members of Virginia’s congressional delegation have said.
Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, has not yet isssued a statement. We’ll update this if and when he does.
Kaine: ‘Horrible judgment’
“The American public is overwhelmingly opposed to the U.S. waging war on Iran. And the Israeli Foreign Minister admitted yesterday that Israeli bombing had set the Iranian nuclear program back “at least 2 or 3 years.” So what made Trump recklessly decide to rush and bomb today? Horrible judgment. I will push for all Senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war.”
— Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., member of Senate Armed Services Committee
Warner: Trump has offered no plan to avoid a wider war
“President Trump came into office promising to ‘end the endless foreign wars.’ Tonight, he took steps that could drag the United States into another one, without consulting Congress, without a clear strategy, without regard to the consistent conclusions of the intelligence community, and without explaining to the American people what’s at stake.
“There is no question that Iran poses a serious threat to regional stability, and the United States must remain unwavering in our commitment to Israel’s security and in ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. But launching direct military strikes without authorization from or consultation with Congress raises urgent questions: What is the president’s objective? How is he measuring success? And what’s the plan to prevent this from dragging our country into another open-ended conflict in the Middle East that costs American lives and resources for years to come?
“The Constitution makes clear that the power to authorize war lies with Congress. There are more than 40,000 U.S. servicemembers deployed across the region, as well as American diplomats, contractors, and aid workers, and the safety of our personnel must be paramount. With American lives and our national security on the line, any action that could draw the United States into a broader conflict demands transparency, accountability, and a clear strategy. So far, the president has offered none of these.
“The American people deserve more than vague rhetoric and unilateral decisions that could set off a wider war. The president must come before Congress immediately to articulate clear strategic objectives and lay out how he plans to protect American lives and ensure we are not once again drawn into a costly, unnecessary, and avoidable conflict.”
— Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.; vice chairman of Senate Intelligence Committee
Members of Virginia’s House delegation are listed by order of congressional district number:
Wittman: ‘The president was right’
“The President was right — Iran refused to commit to nuclear disarmament. This was the right decision. America must secure peace through strength. God bless our servicemen and women in uniform — I am praying for their safe return.”
— Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland County (1st District)
Kiggans: ‘Iran cannot have nuclear weapons’
“The American military remains the greatest in the world. … God bless our troops. I support President Trump’s decision to bomb the three sites in Iran because Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. Iran should heed the president’s warning to not retaliate against U.S. forces or U.S. citizens anywhere in the world. Peace through strength remains our goal.”
— Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach (2nd)
Scott: Iran was complying until Trump withdrew from nuclear deal
“The President has attacked another nation without congressional authorization. There was no apparent imminent Iranian threat against the United States. Furthermore, the President’s own Director of National Intelligence testified before Congress earlier this year that the U.S. intelligence community assessed Iran was not building a nuclear weapon.
“Our nation cannot again go to war with faulty intelligence. We saw what happened in Iraq in 2003, which dragged the United States into a protracted war in the Middle East for eight years. That is why it is imperative that we pass the War Powers Resolution, authored by Senator Tim Kaine in the Senate and Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna in the House, to terminate any ongoing military action by the United States against Iran unless authorized by Congress.
“I remain hopeful for a diplomatic solution. Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. However, we had reached a diplomatic solution to guard against Iran developing a nuclear weapon when President Obama successfully negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 between Iran, the United States and the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. This agreement was broadly supported by the international community and Iran was complying until President Trump withdrew the United States from the JCPOA in 2018. We would not be in this mess now if the President had not withdrawn from that agreement.”
— Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News (3rd)
McClellan: ‘Using force that at best merely delays nuclear weapons development by a few years will not bring long-term success’
“President Trump’s decision to launch air strikes on Iran without Congressional consultation or approval absent an imminent threat to the United States risks triggering a broader regional war that drags us deeper into an avoidable conflict with no clear strategy.
“Escalating tensions through force without a coordinated diplomatic effort dangerously undermines our national security and the safety of our allies, and puts our over 40,000 servicemembers stationed throughout the Middle East within reach of Iranian missiles and drones at risk. The American people deserve transparency and accountability when it comes to decisions that could cost American lives. I urge the Administration to brief all members in Congress on the intelligence that compelled these strikes, the effectiveness of the strikes, the plans for what comes next, and the actions that the Administration is taking to protect American servicemembers and potential domestic targets from Iranian reprisals.
“While we remain firm in our commitment to preventing a nuclear armed Iran, using force that at best merely delays nuclear weapons development by a few years will not bring long-term success. Only robust and aggressive diplomatic action has ever successfully contained Iran’s nuclear ambitions in a meaningful way. Unfortunately, the President abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement successfully negotiated by the Obama-Biden Administration, without any clear alternatives in mind to avoid the current crisis that we find ourselves in at this moment.
“I urge the Administration to pursue every available diplomatic channel to de-escalate this crisis, prevent further bloodshed and achieve a lasting and durable solution to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”
— Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond (4th)
McGuire: ‘Future generations will not have to live with a nuclear armed Iran’
“President Trump was clear: Iran can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Iran is a state sponsor of terror, and they have a history of killing US service members and others around the world. This is a historic moment, and future generations will not have to live with a nuclear armed Iran. We are thankful the men and women of our Armed Forces returned home safely! God Bless America!”
— Rep. John McGuire, R-Goochland County (5th District)
Cline: ‘Trump is to be commended for acting decisively and constitutionally’
“As the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism, Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. Because the leaders of Iran refused to agree to halt its nuclear weapons program, America has taken action to halt it for them. As Commander in Chief, President Trump is to be commended for acting decisively and constitutionally to remove the imminent threat that a nuclear Iran represented. God Bless our brave troops, and God Bless the United States of America.”
— Rep. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt County (6th District)
Vindman: ‘This is the stuff of autocrats. Disgraceful.’
“And so the United States goes to war with Iran without so much as a by your leave to the American people. No statement, other than on social media; no notice to Congress; no serious deliberation. This is the stuff of autocrats. Disgraceful.
“I hope that all of our service members in the region are safe and succeeded with their mission.”
— Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Prince William County (7th)
Beyer: ‘Trump has no constitutional authority to take us to war with Iran’
“President Trump has no constitutional authority to take us to war with Iran without authorization from Congress, and Congress has not authorized it.”
— Rep. Don Beyer, D-Alexandria (8th)
Subramanyam: Trump ‘now bears all responsibility’
“President Trump promised immediate peace in the Middle East during his campaign last year, and he declared that he would judge himself not only by the wars he won but he wars he kept our country out of. By his own meansurement, President Trump has been a failure.
“While a nuclear Iran is unacceptable, President Trump carried out these unilateral strikes without congressional atuhorization or a roadmap for what American involvement looks like long term.
“As Ranking Member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, I believe the American people deserve more oversight and a say in the process beore potentially being dragged into a war that could cost American lives and trillions of dollars.
“This Administration now bears all responsibility for the consequences, intended and unintended, of these actions. I hope for a positive outcome and will continue to push for accountability.
“My thoughts are with our service members and their families, as well as those in harm’s way.”
— Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Loudoun County (10th)