Trump’s Iran Strikes Ignite Congressional War Powers Clash Amid Retaliation Fears

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s decision to launch strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities has sparked a firestorm in Congress, with lawmakers grappling over the balance of war powers and the risks of escalation. Republicans largely back Trump’s bold move, granting him wide latitude to act without prior Congressional approval. Yet, some within the MAGA base—long skeptical of foreign entanglements—worry this could betray Trump’s campaign promises to avoid overseas conflicts.

Democrats are split. Pro-Israel voices in the party urge action against Iran’s threats to regional stability, while others, alongside a few rogue Republicans, push back hard. Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) have introduced a resolution to block U.S. involvement in Iran, and Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is gearing up for a Senate vote later this week to question America’s role in such conflicts altogether.

Both sides share a common fear: Iran’s potential retaliation. Lawmakers are bracing for possible strikes from Iranian proxies or even sleeper cells on U.S. soil. A Senate-wide briefing on Iran is slated for Tuesday, as Congress scrambles to assess the risks and what Trump’s next steps might entail.

The deeper question looms: will Congress invoke its constitutional war powers to rein in or authorize further action? As the debate rages, the nation watches to see if this strike marks a new chapter in U.S.-Iran relations—or a dangerous misstep.