Bernie Sanders criticizes Trump decision to bomb Iran as ‘grossly unconstitutional’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at a rally in Oklahoma blasted President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran and enter the U.S. into Israel’s war with Tehran.

Sanders broke the news to the crowd in Tulsa, which began chants of “no more war.”

“I agree,” Sanders told the crowd. “Not only is this news that I’ve just heard alarming . . . but it is so grossly unconstitutional. All of you know, that the only entity that can take this country to war is the U.S. Congress. The president does not have the right.”

Only Congress has the power to declare war under the U.S. Constitution, though presidents in both parties have carried out military strikes on adversaries without prior approval from the legislative body.

Lawmakers in both parties have been unnerved in recent days by the saber-rattling over the possible U.S. entry to Israel’s bombing of Iran. Trump just days ago said he would be making a decision in the next two weeks about bombing Iran.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced a resolution Monday seeking to prevent the U.S. from getting involved in a military conflict with Iran without congressional approval.

The resolution reaffirms existing law, directing the president to end any use of the U.S. armed forces “for hostilities” against Iran “unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.”

Ocasio-Cortez says Iran bombing grounds for Trump impeachment

by Mychael Schnell - 06/21/25 11:33 PM ET

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Saturday night said President Trump’s decision to strike three of Iran’s nuclear sites is grounds for impeachment, becoming one of the first elected Democrats to back the constitutional punishment after the attack in the Middle East.

Trump announced Sunday night that the U.S. executed a “spectacular military success” in Iran, striking three nuclear facilities — including Fordow, which is hidden deep in a mountain south of Tehran. He warned that the U.S. would order additional strikes if Iran does not come to the table to negotiate a peace agreement.

While several House Democrats slammed Trump’s strike as unconstitutional, Ocasio-Cortez was one of a select few to go a step further and categorize the move as impeachable.

“The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a post on X. “He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”

Article 1 of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to “declare war,” one of the largest powers held by the Legislative Branch. In the past, however, presidents of both parties have struck adversaries militarily without approval from Congress.

Ocasio-Cortez argued that by striking the Iranian nuclear facilities without authorization from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the president breached the Constitution and Congressional War Powers.