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“This is not Constitutional.”
That was the one-line response from a republican representative to President Donald J. Trump’s Truth Social post about the U.S. bombing in Iran.
In a Saturday address to the nation, Trump said “For 40 years, Iran has been saying ‘Death to America,’ ‘Death to Israel.’ They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs. That was their specialty.
“We lost over a thousand people, and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate. In particular, so many were killed by their general, Qassem Soleimani.
“I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue.”
The address came after Trump announced on his social media platform that the U.S. had “completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.”
In the post, Trump said that U.S. planes had delivered a “full payload of BOMBS” and that they were “outside of Iran air space” and “safely on their way home” when he posted the announcement.
“Congratulations to our great American Warriors,” he wrote. “There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Several Democrats responded to the announcement in dismay, calling the strike an act of war and even saying Trump should be impeached.
Republicans, on the other hand, appeared to support the strike.
But Rep. Thomas Harold Massie, R-Ky, did not agree with his GOP counterparts. Instead, he posted his statement of dissent.
This is not Constitutional. https://t.co/EU3fS5jcwb
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 21, 2025
Massie has his sights set on introducing a war powers resolution in the House to prohibit American involvement in Iran.
“This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our constitution,” he wrote in an X post on June 16. “I’m introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement.”
This is not our war.
But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution.
I’m introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement.
I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 16, 2025
Trump did not waiver amid the criticism, however, telling Iran in his Saturday address that there were other sites American could hit, and that it would not hesitate to do so if Iran did not choose peace.
After his speech, Trump posted another message on Truth Social with a stern warning to Iran.
“ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT,” he wrote. “THANK YOU! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES”
The debate about war powers stems from two separate article in the Constitution. Article 1, section 8 grants U.S. Congress the power “to declare war,” raise and support armies, and make rules for the military.
But Article II of the Constitution gives the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the president of the United States, some war powers, too, causing much constitutional debate.
Trump has the Constitutional authority to direct military operations, deploy troops, and respond to attacks.
According to Congress.gov, the President can commit troops to military operations, decide when an armed attack has occurred, and determine any required defense of the nation. The President also has the authority to act in order to protect American lives and interests during wartime.
Only Congress, however, can formally declare war. Of course, there has been no declaration of war against Iran thus far.
