Delaware Valley Democrats in Congress are denouncing President Donald Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes against Iran without authorization from Congress. However, those same Democrats largely supported similar military actions in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen during Joe Biden’s presidency.
After Saturday’s military barrage targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan condemned the Trump-ordered action.
“We have bombed a nation we are not at war with and have done so without Congress knowing about it, voting on it, or approving it,” said Houlahan. “President Trump’s actions are not only unconstitutional—they are dangerous.
“The Trump administration must brief Congress immediately and fully on this action and the Americans currently in the region who are at risk, and must also come before Congress as required before taking any further action,” Houlahan added.
But when the Biden administration launched strikes in Yemen targeting the Houthis in January 2024, Houlahan appeared on Fox News and declared the action “absolutely appropriate.” And she rejected the argument that the president needed authorization to act.
In fact, Biden ordered bombings and missile strikes in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, and Houlahan never demanded that he seek congressional authorization in advance.
Houlahan’s fellow Democrat, U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, had a similar response. While she offered few objections to Biden’s unilateral military actions, she complained, “Donald Trump unilaterally and unconstitutionally authorized military action in Iran.
Dean and Houlahan reflect the overall response to Trump’s actions against Iran, which have largely broken down party lines.
“As I have said all along, Iran must not have a nuclear weapon. This targeted attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities is the result of the Iranian regime’s failure to make a deal despite months of President Trump’s good-faith efforts to negotiate,” said Republican U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.)
“I applaud President Trump’s strong leadership and his continued commitment to peace through strength. Once again, America’s detractors around the world should know President Trump means what he says.”
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) also supported Trump’s decision.
“Tonight, the United States executed a successful strike on Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Fitzpatrick posted Saturday. “This was the right call—and a necessary one. Make no mistake: a nuclear Iran is an existential threat—not just to Israel, but to the entire free world. Peace through strength is how we lead. And tonight, the greatest military on Earth delivered —for America, for our allies, and for the cause of global security.”
Fitzpatrick tagged his statement “#PeaceThroughStrength.”
The one prominent Pennsylvanian to cross party lines was, once again, Democrat U.S. Sen. John Fetterman.
“As I’ve long maintained, this was the correct move by (President Trump).” Fetterman said on X. “Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities. I’m grateful for and salute the finest military in the world.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) took a measured response when speaking at an event at the Pocono Raceway Sunday, one that avoided praising or criticizing Trump.
“The idea that Iran, the world’s largest sponsor of terror, would have a nuclear weapon, would not only destabilize the Middle East, but it would create risk for American interests at home and abroad. And so it is good if Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon,” Shapiro said.
“I think what is most important right now is that we not have any escalation beyond what occurred last night. I don’t think any of us want to get dragged in to another long war in the Middle East, and I think it is important that we are vigilant about that,” Shapiro added.
“Obviously, the Trump administration holds responsibility for what comes next and ensuring that our American troops and our personnel in the region are safe.”
One Delaware Valley Democrat who earned points for consistency is U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon.
“Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran without seeking congressional authorization is unacceptable, both because the decision to wage war rests with Congress and because there has been no evidence of any imminent threat to the United States,” she posted on Saturday.
But unlike Dean and Houlahan, she was one of 48 House members to introduce bipartisan legislation “to assert Congress’ constitutional war powers and end unauthorized United States military involvement in Saudi Arabia’s brutal war in Yemen.” The bill would have blocked the Biden administration’s ability to continue to launch military strikes against the Houthis without a sign-off from Congress.
Rabbi Matt Abelson, a member of the Greater Philadelphia Board of Rabbis, was less than impressed by Scanlon’s attacks on Trump for “abandoning democracy and launching this attack,” as she put it.
“Indeed, only Congress can wage war, but abundant precedent exists in the 20th and early 21st century that a commander in chief may act for national security purposes, short of waging war,” Abelson told DVJournal. “Rep. Scanlon’s statement treats the president as more problematic than the Islamic Republic that seeks a nuclear weapon. How out of step with the sentiments of constituents in District Five.”
The question now is how many of the region’s members of Congress will join Democratic efforts to condemn Trump’s strike on Iran.
Likely 2028 presidential candidate U.S Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who grew up in Bucks County, and U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) have sponsored a War Powers Resolution in the House, and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) sponsored one in the Senate. Khanna said it was very important for Congress to vote on it to “signal that we don’t want further escalation with Iran.”
Meanwhile, New York Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is calling for Trump’s impeachment.
While as of press time there have not been any polls released since the U.S. military decimated Iran’s nuclear program, CNN’s polling expert Harry Enten says the data leading up to the strikes showed most Americans shared Trump’s view.
“Polling on Iran depends on question wording,” Enten acknowledged. “But 79 percent of Democrats, independents, and Republicans were with Trump and opposed Iran getting nuclear arms.
“Further, when asked if Iran was working to get nuclear arms, 69 percent of Republicans favored U.S. airstrikes and so did a plurality of all Americans.”
