House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) believes Democrats should look into its own history before throwing shade on President Donald Trump for the U.S. attack on Iran Saturday.
Johnson told reporters Monday that he did not believe a war resolution by Congress was warranted. The U.S. hit three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, according to the Daily Wire.
“I don’t think this is an appropriate time for a war powers resolution, and I don’t think it’s necessary. Listen, for 80 years, presidents of both parties have acted with the same commander in chief authority under Article 2″ of the Constitution, Johnson said.
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Johnson noted former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama also directed military operations without the expressed approval of Congress.
“You had President Biden use it three times in Middle East operations. President Obama went on an eight-month campaign bombing Libya to take down the regime there. I never heard a Democrat balk about any of that,” Johnson said. “And suddenly now they’re just up in arms. It’s all politics. This is not a time for politics.”
The attacks over the weekend were needed to prevent Iran’s progress in obtaining nuclear weapons, the Trump administration said.
Iran fought back with a strike on a United States military base in Qatar Monday.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Calif.) saidTrump’s actions “do not appear to be consistent” with the Constitution by taking “unilateral offensive military action” without Congress’ approval.
“The use of military force, which is offensive in nature, must be approved by the House and the Senate. That’s according to the Constitution. It’s not optional, Donald. It’s not,” Jeffries said.
