WATCH: Capitol Hill debate erupts over whether Trump’s Iran strikes amount to ‘war’
This is performative politics again.
Debate on Capitol Hill continues to rage over whether President Donald Trump started a "war" with the strikes he carried out against Iran last weekend, a key consideration for whether the president must look to Congress for authority to continue Operation Epic Fury.
Where Republicans see a narrowly-tailored attack designed to prevent a U.S. adversary from securing nuclear capabilities, Democrats see a conflict that could easily spill into a broader conflict.
"Congress is not supposed to be an after-the-fact spectator, the Constitution makes plain," Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told Fox News Digital.
"President Trump has not said, like in Venezuela, ‘this is a police operation,' that it’s ‘an arrest,’" Kaine said, comparing the strikes to the January capture of Nicolás Maduro.
OPERATION EPIC FURY SURVIVES SENATE CHALLENGE AS REPUBLICANS CLOSE RANKS BEHIND TRUMP
Democrats like Kaine have blasted Trump for dragging the U.S. into a conflict that, in their view, looks a lot like a war — something only Congress has the power to declare. It is that determination that makes them believe lawmakers should use the War Powers Act of 1973 to curb Trump's powers in Iran.
That law prevents the president from continuing hostilities against a foreign power that extends past 60 days.
Republicans like Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., see no reason to invoke the War Powers Act, given the scope of the current conflict.
A measure to kill a Democrat-led war powers resolution aimed at handcuffing Trump’s military operations in Iran passed on Wednesday in a 53-47 Senate vote.
"I mean, even if you disagree with this, I just don’t think you can dispute [that] they’re complying with the statute. The president has the authority under Article II to do what he has done so far," Hawley said, referring to the Constitution's military power granted to the country's commander in chief.
Last Saturday, the U.S. conducted a series of strikes in collaboration with Israel, targeting the country’s military leadership and killing the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Trump administration has framed the attack as a necessary campaign to halt Iran’s work towards obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Although Hawley supports the administration’s work so far, he has a firm red line in mind for where the conflict would require Congressional say-so.
"Ground troops would be a different deal," Hawley said. "But [Trump] just said, ‘We’re not going to do ground troops,’ so, I just say to my Democrat friends — I think they’re just looking for something to vote against the president on."
REPUBLICANS HAND TRUMP …
This is performative politics again.
Debate on Capitol Hill continues to rage over whether President Donald Trump started a "war" with the strikes he carried out against Iran last weekend, a key consideration for whether the president must look to Congress for authority to continue Operation Epic Fury.
Where Republicans see a narrowly-tailored attack designed to prevent a U.S. adversary from securing nuclear capabilities, Democrats see a conflict that could easily spill into a broader conflict.
"Congress is not supposed to be an after-the-fact spectator, the Constitution makes plain," Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told Fox News Digital.
"President Trump has not said, like in Venezuela, ‘this is a police operation,' that it’s ‘an arrest,’" Kaine said, comparing the strikes to the January capture of Nicolás Maduro.
OPERATION EPIC FURY SURVIVES SENATE CHALLENGE AS REPUBLICANS CLOSE RANKS BEHIND TRUMP
Democrats like Kaine have blasted Trump for dragging the U.S. into a conflict that, in their view, looks a lot like a war — something only Congress has the power to declare. It is that determination that makes them believe lawmakers should use the War Powers Act of 1973 to curb Trump's powers in Iran.
That law prevents the president from continuing hostilities against a foreign power that extends past 60 days.
Republicans like Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., see no reason to invoke the War Powers Act, given the scope of the current conflict.
A measure to kill a Democrat-led war powers resolution aimed at handcuffing Trump’s military operations in Iran passed on Wednesday in a 53-47 Senate vote.
"I mean, even if you disagree with this, I just don’t think you can dispute [that] they’re complying with the statute. The president has the authority under Article II to do what he has done so far," Hawley said, referring to the Constitution's military power granted to the country's commander in chief.
Last Saturday, the U.S. conducted a series of strikes in collaboration with Israel, targeting the country’s military leadership and killing the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Trump administration has framed the attack as a necessary campaign to halt Iran’s work towards obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Although Hawley supports the administration’s work so far, he has a firm red line in mind for where the conflict would require Congressional say-so.
"Ground troops would be a different deal," Hawley said. "But [Trump] just said, ‘We’re not going to do ground troops,’ so, I just say to my Democrat friends — I think they’re just looking for something to vote against the president on."
REPUBLICANS HAND TRUMP …
WATCH: Capitol Hill debate erupts over whether Trump’s Iran strikes amount to ‘war’
This is performative politics again.
Debate on Capitol Hill continues to rage over whether President Donald Trump started a "war" with the strikes he carried out against Iran last weekend, a key consideration for whether the president must look to Congress for authority to continue Operation Epic Fury.
Where Republicans see a narrowly-tailored attack designed to prevent a U.S. adversary from securing nuclear capabilities, Democrats see a conflict that could easily spill into a broader conflict.
"Congress is not supposed to be an after-the-fact spectator, the Constitution makes plain," Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told Fox News Digital.
"President Trump has not said, like in Venezuela, ‘this is a police operation,' that it’s ‘an arrest,’" Kaine said, comparing the strikes to the January capture of Nicolás Maduro.
OPERATION EPIC FURY SURVIVES SENATE CHALLENGE AS REPUBLICANS CLOSE RANKS BEHIND TRUMP
Democrats like Kaine have blasted Trump for dragging the U.S. into a conflict that, in their view, looks a lot like a war — something only Congress has the power to declare. It is that determination that makes them believe lawmakers should use the War Powers Act of 1973 to curb Trump's powers in Iran.
That law prevents the president from continuing hostilities against a foreign power that extends past 60 days.
Republicans like Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., see no reason to invoke the War Powers Act, given the scope of the current conflict.
A measure to kill a Democrat-led war powers resolution aimed at handcuffing Trump’s military operations in Iran passed on Wednesday in a 53-47 Senate vote.
"I mean, even if you disagree with this, I just don’t think you can dispute [that] they’re complying with the statute. The president has the authority under Article II to do what he has done so far," Hawley said, referring to the Constitution's military power granted to the country's commander in chief.
Last Saturday, the U.S. conducted a series of strikes in collaboration with Israel, targeting the country’s military leadership and killing the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Trump administration has framed the attack as a necessary campaign to halt Iran’s work towards obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Although Hawley supports the administration’s work so far, he has a firm red line in mind for where the conflict would require Congressional say-so.
"Ground troops would be a different deal," Hawley said. "But [Trump] just said, ‘We’re not going to do ground troops,’ so, I just say to my Democrat friends — I think they’re just looking for something to vote against the president on."
REPUBLICANS HAND TRUMP …
