Trump Threatens Iranian Infrastructure as Republicans Cheer and Democrats Warn of War Crimes

President Donald Trump spent Easter morning threatening to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure back to the "Stone Ages" -- and when asked if that would constitute a war crime, he simply said "No, not at all."

The threat came in a profanity-laced social media post warning Iran to "Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell." Trump indicated he was prepared to order strikes on power plants and bridges starting Tuesday. By Monday, he doubled down, telling reporters "I hope I don't have to do it" but refusing to acknowledge any legal problems with the plan.

The response from Congress split cleanly along party lines -- with Republicans offering cover and Democrats sounding alarms about the Geneva Conventions.

Republicans Call It Leverage

Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican and military veteran, defended Trump's threats as tactical positioning. "It's an ongoing operation, and if he needs leverage, he's using that leverage," she told MS NOW. Ernst argued the threatened targets have military applications, adding "there's no doubt" about that connection.

Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said he disliked Trump's "vulgar and profane" language but admitted he had "mixed feelings" on whether bombing bridges and power plants would be war crimes. "There's mixed opinions on it," he said.

Other Republicans went further. Rep. Randy Fine of Florida -- a vocal Israel supporter -- posted "Happy Power Plant and Bridge Eve" online Monday. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida praised Trump for showing "strength" after "years of Democrats' weak appeasement," claiming "the evil regime must be held accountable." And Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana urged Trump to "hit them harder than ever Mr. President. Hit them so hard, the Angels in Heaven nod in wonder."

Democrats Warn of Legal Consequences for Troops

Democratic lawmakers -- particularly those with military and intelligence backgrounds -- are warning that Trump's threats put service members in legal jeopardy, not the president himself.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, one of six Democratic veterans who released a video in January urging troops to "refuse illegal orders," said Trump's threatened strikes would "violate the law of armed conflict as laid out in the Geneva Conventions." She warned that "it's our service members who are put in legal and mortal danger."

"When the smoke clears, it will be our service members -- not President Trump or Secretary Hegseth -- who could have to live with the consequences," Slotkin wrote.

Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, another member of that group, told MS NOW he stands by the January video and called on "Americans of all stripes" to condemn Trump's threats. "We will not tolerate it, and we will seek accountability if he moves forward with it," Crow said.

The Trump administration branded Slotkin, Crow, and their four colleagues "The Seditious Six" and attempted to indict them for the video urging troops to disobey illegal orders. That effort came just three months before Trump launched his war with Iran.

Congress Left in the Dark

Crow told MS NOW that lawmakers cannot fully assess whether Trump's orders would be illegal because Congress is not receiving proper briefings on the administration's military plans. "It's hard for us to tell," he said, because the administration is not keeping Congress informed.

The Geneva Conventions -- international treaties the United States ratified -- prohibit attacks on civilian infrastructure unless it provides a definite military advantage. Bombing power plants and bridges that serve entire cities would likely violate those protections, legal experts have said.

Trump has shown no indication he plans to back down. The president's Easter threat marked an escalation in his confrontation with Iran, which began shortly after he took office and has included economic sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and now threats of direct military strikes on infrastructure.

Republicans in Congress appear willing to let him proceed. Democrats are warning that the people who will pay the price are not the politicians making the decisions -- but the service members ordered to carry them out.