On Sunday night, President Donald Trump announced that the United States had carried out precision airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, stating that the strikes were “necessary” to prevent an imminent Iranian nuclear threat Reuters report. The announcement, delivered from the Oval Office with Secretary of State Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin at his side, has ignited a firestorm of reaction on Capitol Hill and across the political spectrum.
@POTUS “We struck key nuclear sites in Iran to protect America and our allies. Our actions were precise and warranted.” View on X
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the decisive action in a statement to CNN, calling it “a strong message to Iran that the U.S. will not tolerate nuclear aggression.” Schumer also urged Congress to convene immediately to discuss broader authorization for military operations, emphasizing that “the President must have the backing of both the executive and legislative branches for such significant steps.”
@SenSchumer “Congress should be in session now to support this necessary action and ensure oversight.” via X
By contrast, Senator Bernie Sanders condemned the strikes as “reckless escalation” in a sharply worded tweet, arguing that bombing sovereign territory without United Nations approval risks global instability @SenSanders. Sanders, a longtime advocate for diplomatic solutions, told Politico that “war should never be our first option, and this President has shown he acts on impulse rather than strategy.”
@SenSanders “These unprovoked strikes could plunge the region into a larger war. Diplomacy was ignored.” via X
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also decried the strike on her official @AOC account, stating, “Trump has yet again bypassed Congress, violated international norms, and put American troops and civilians at greater risk.” Speaking on C-SPAN, she demanded immediate hearings on the president’s war powers authority, insisting that “the people’s elected representatives must hold the administration accountable.”
@AOC “Bypassing Congress is unconstitutional. We need to rein in unchecked executive war powers.” via X
In starkly different tones, Senator Lindsey Graham applauded the operation. On his @LindseyGrahamSC feed, he tweeted, “Finally, a President willing to act decisively against Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Show strength or invite aggression.” Graham, an ardent supporter of robust military responses, told Fox News that “soft power only emboldens dictators, and this action restores American credibility.”
@LindseyGrahamSC “If you don’t use force against nukes, you deserve what you get—hats off to the President.” via X
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi offered a more measured response, supporting the need to stop Iran’s nuclear progress while cautioning that “every effort must be made to prevent a regional conflagration” official statement. Pelosi suggested that “intelligence assessments and diplomatic channels should be exhaustively pursued before resorting to kinetic action.”
@SpeakerPelosi “Stopping nuclear weapons is crucial, but we must avoid deeper conflict. Congress must lead the policy debate.” via X
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel praised Trump’s decisiveness in a statement to Washington Examiner, calling the action “a masterstroke of leadership.” Notably, she urged the GOP to “rally around the Commander-in-Chief” and warned Democrats against “politicizing America’s security.”
On the international front, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said alliance members had been consulted beforehand and pledged “full solidarity” with the U.S., while urging “maximum restraint” in follow-up operations NATO press release. However, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “concern” over bypassing the UN Security Council, advocating for renewed efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal Euronews report.
Analysts warn of potential blowback. A briefing paper by the Council on Foreign Relations outlines risks including elevated proxy attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and anti-American protests across the Muslim world.
Business and market reactions were immediate. Oil prices jumped 6% after the announcement, with Brent crude briefly topping $98 a barrel, per Bloomberg commodity data. The Wall Street Journal noted that increased volatility in emerging-market currencies and military contractors’ stocks soared.
Grassroots activists organized both vigils and demonstrations nationwide. In New York City, over 1,000 protesters gathered in Times Square, chanting “No More Wars” and “Diplomacy Now,” as covered by The New York Times. Meanwhile, supporters of the strikes held rallies in Washington, D.C., and Phoenix, demanding an end to the Iranian nuclear threat.
Veteran diplomat and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright wrote in an op-ed for Foreign Affairs that while “preventing nuclear proliferation is vital,” the U.S. must prepare for “a sustained campaign of strategic patience, sanctions, and multilateral pressure” to avoid wider war.
Legal scholars are also weighing in. The Lawfare Blog published an analysis questioning whether the strikes violate domestic war powers requirements, noting that the 1973 War Powers Resolution obligates the President to seek Congressional authorization within 48 hours of military action.
@LawfareBlog “The Iran strikes raise crucial constitutional questions about executive authority without explicit congressional approval.” via X
In Tehran, state television ran footage of IRGC commanders inspecting missile units, followed by scenes of citizens pledging loyalty in public squares. An IRGC spokesman told IRNA News Agency that Iran’s “response will be proportional and relentless,” but did not specify targets.
Humanitarian organizations warned that civilian casualties could rise if Iran retaliates. The International Committee of the Red Cross highlighted that “healthcare facilities in border regions are already overstretched,” urging all parties to “protect non-combatants” under international humanitarian law ICRC bulletin.
As the fallout continues, the debate on Trump’s Iran strikes underscores deep divides over U.S. foreign policy. Whether the action will successfully halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions or instead trigger a wider war remains uncertain. One thing is clear: America’s political leaders are united in their intensity, if not their views.
