'Operation Epic Fury': Most Dems criticize Trump, while Republicans praise president

Politicians are speaking out after the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran overnight on Saturday.

The U.S. has dubbed the mission "Operation Epic Fury," while Israel is calling it "Operation Roaring Lion."

While many Republicans are praising President Donald Trump, several Democrats are criticizing him.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was among the Democrats who said Trump took action without congressional authorization. He said while Iran is a "bad actor," the president must still "seek authorization for the preemptive use of military force that constitutes an act of war."

"Donald Trump promised to keep America out of costly and endless foreign wars,"[Jeffries wrote in a statement he shared on X]. "He is now doing the exact opposite in the Middle East. Congress must vote on a War Powers resolution immediately."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed, saying the Senate should "quickly return to session and reassert its constitutional duty by passing our resolution to enforce the War Powers Act." He also said the Trump administration should brief Congress to answer several "vital" questions.

"The administration has not provided Congress and the American people with critical details about the scope and immediacy of the threat,"[Schumer wrote on social media].

"Confronting Iran’s malign regional activities, nuclear ambitions, and harsh oppression of the Iranian people demands American strength, resolve, regional coordination, and strategic clarity," he added. "Unfortunately, President Trump’s fitful cycles of lashing out and risking wider conflict are not a viable strategy."

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, another Democrat, said the American people do not want a war with Iran.

"Trump is acting on the violent fantasies of the American political elite and the Israeli apartheid government, ignoring the vast majority of Americans who say loud and clear: No More Wars," she wrote on X.

Not all Democrats shared the same sentiments. Sen. John Fetterman was among those who disagreed.

"My vote is Operation Epic Fury,"[Fetterman posted].

Many Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, said Trump and the administration tried to reach "peaceful and diplomatic solutions" with Iran. But, Johnson said, the Iranian regime continued its "sustained nuclear ambitions and development," with the nation not only murdering Americans, but it's own citizens.

"Iran is facing the severe consequences of its evil actions," Johnson noted on X.

"For decades, Iran has defiantly maintained its nuclear program while arming and funding Hamas, Hezbollah, and other internationally recognized terrorist organizations," he added. "Iran and its proxies have menaced America and American lives, undermined our core national interests, systematically destabilized the Middle East, and threatened the security of the entire West."

Johnson also said the "Gang of 8" was briefed ahead of the strikes in order to protect American troops and American citizens in Iran.

"We pray for the safety of our brave servicemembers and our allies involved in Operation Epic Fury," he wrote. "May God bless them, and may God bless America."

Majority Leader John Thune said Iran has posed "a clear and unacceptable threat" to U.S. military, along with American citizens in the region, as well as U.S. allies.

"Despite the dogged efforts of the president and his administration, the Iranian regime has refused the diplomatic off-ramps that would peacefully resolve these national security concerns," Thune said on social media. "I commend President Trump for taking action to thwart these threats."

Sen. Lindsey Graham agreed.

"A word of advice to our regional Arab partners and other allies: get behind President Trump and go all in to ensure the ayatollah’s Iran, which has become the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world is no more," Graham wrote on X. "Stand with the people and stand against the ayatollah. You won’t regret it if you do."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement, noting that Trump "monitored the situation overnight" from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida with members of his national security team. She said the president also spoke to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone.

Leavitt added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio called all members of the "Gang of 8" to provide congressional notification and reached and briefed seven of the eight.

"The president and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day," Leavitt said in the statement.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that she is in "direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely monitor and thwart any potential threats to the homeland."

At least 57 people were reported killed at a girls’ school in southern Iran in the Israeli-U.S. strikes, and dozens others were wounded, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. The White House and the Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

---

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.