Latest news on Iran: US and Israel launch attacks

Former Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had a public falling out with President Trump before leaving office midway through his term, questioned the president’s commitment to the “America First” message that was central to his re-election campaign in a post on X on Saturday.

“We said, ‘No more foreign wars, no more regime change!’ We said it on stage at rallies, in speech after speech. Mr. Trump, Vice President (J.D.) Vance, and basically the entire administration campaigned on this, pledging to put America first and make America great again,” Greene wrote.

Greene has been a staunch ally of Trump for most of her political career. But the two sides clashed over foreign policy and the Trump administration’s handling of files on disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Green announced his resignation in November and stepped down in early January.

“Now, after only a year in power, America will be force-fed and gas-lit with all the ‘noble’ reasons America’s ‘peace’ president and pro-peace administration had to go to war again this year. It’s dizzying, but seriously,” Greene wrote.

—Justin Papp

“Iran faces serious consequences for its evil actions,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said Saturday.

“President Trump and his administration have made every effort to seek peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the Iranian regime’s continued nuclear ambitions and development, terrorism, and killing of Americans and even its own citizens,” Johnson wrote on X.

In his post, Johnson noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in office this week to brief House and Senate leaders on developments in Iran.

House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement Saturday that Iran is a “bad actor” and “we must aggressively confront its human rights abuses, nuclear ambitions, support for terrorism, and the threat it poses to our allies in the region, including Israel and Jordan.” But, like other Democrats, he questioned the constitutionality of launching such an attack without Congressional approval.

“The framers of the U.S. Constitution gave Congress, the branch of government closest to the American people, the sole authority to declare war,” Jeffries said.

“Donald Trump did not seek Congressional approval before attacking Iran. Instead, the president’s decision to abandon diplomacy and launch a major military strike left the U.S. military vulnerable to Iranian retaliatory action,” Jeffries continued.

—Justin Papp

Although most Democrats in attendance questioned the constitutionality of President Trump’s attack on Iran, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman also joined Republicans in supporting it.

“Operation Epic Fury. President Trump has been willing to do what is right and necessary to create true peace in the region. God bless America, our great military, and Israel,” Fetterman, a frequent dissenting voice within the Democratic caucus, posted on X.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, posted on X, “Finally, the butcher’s due date has come for the Ayatollahs,” referring to Iran’s supreme leader.

“Nuclear weapons program. Thousands of missiles. State sponsorship of terrorism. Iran has been at war against the United States for 47 years. The hostage crisis, the Beirut Marine barracks, Khobar Towers, the roadside bombs that killed and injured thousands of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, the attempted assassination of President Trump, and more,” Cotton wrote.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.C., said in a statement Saturday that he thanked Secretary of State Marco Rubio “for updating us on these issues throughout this week” and said the administration looked forward to briefing all senators on the attack.

“Despite the president and his administration’s persistent efforts, the Iranian regime has refused diplomatic negotiations to peacefully resolve these national security concerns. I commend President Trump for taking action to thwart these threats,” Thun said.

—Justin Papp

President Trump called on Iranians to “take over the government” in an eight-minute speech following U.S. and Israeli combat operations in the region.

“Great and proud Iranian people, I say this tonight, the time for freedom is at hand,” he said in a video posted on White House social media early Saturday morning.

“Please evacuate. Don’t leave your house. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs are falling everywhere. When we’re done, take over your government. It will be yours. This is probably your only chance for generations.”

— CJ Haddad

Emirates, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, United Airlines and others have suspended flights to Middle East destinations due to airspace closures and attacks on Iran.

Some flights were forced to return to their departure airports or be diverted, including a United Airlines flight from Newark to Tel Aviv that landed in Athens.

Airlines have periodically suspended flights to the region over the years due to the conflict and related safety concerns. Airspace closures often force aircraft carriers to take longer routes around the area, which requires them to use more fuel.

— Leslie Josephs

The Democratic Party called for an explanation and questioned the constitutionality of taking new military action without Congressional approval.

“The Constitution is clear: The decision to lead this country into war rests with Congress, and launching a large-scale military operation, especially in the absence of an imminent threat to the United States, raises serious legal and constitutional concerns,” Sen. Mark Warner (R-Virginia), ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a statement.

“Congress must be fully briefed and the administration must come up with a clear legal justification, a clear end state, and a plan that avoids dragging the United States into another costly and unnecessary war,” Warner said.

The House and Senate are expected to take up the War Powers Resolution next week, which could limit President Trump’s ability to intervene militarily against Iran. The issue was not resolved along partisan lines, and it was unclear which chamber would pass the bill.

Trump drew similar complaints from Democrats in early January after carrying out a targeted operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but lawmakers said they were not briefed in advance.

The Constitution gives Congress the primary authority to declare war. The War Powers Resolution, passed in 1973 in response to the Vietnam War, limits the president’s ability to take unilateral military action and requires the president to consult with Congress before sending troops.

“For months, I have railed against the fact that the American people want lower prices, not more war, especially one that does not have the constitutional authorization of Congress and has no clear purpose,” Sen. Tim Kaine, R-Virginia, who introduced the Iran War Powers Resolution, said in a statement. “These strikes are a huge mistake, and I pray that our sons and daughters in uniform in this region, and our daughters at the embassy, ​​will not lose their lives.”

— Justin Papp