Senators in both parties are growing increasingly nervous about the possibility that President Trump could insert the United States directly in the Israel-Iran war with a decision to bomb Iran to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
It’s not clear whether Trump has made a decision himself on an issue that divides his own party and the MAGA movement. On Wednesday, he said, “I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
The Wall Street Journal later in the day reported that Trump had told senior aides he approved of an attack plan for Iran but was holding off on giving a final order to see if the country abandons its nuclear program.
On Capitol Hill, there is broad support in both parties for Israel, but there is also fear about getting drawn into a larger war in the Middle East.
“I’m uncomfortable,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), who noted that Trump campaigned on keeping the U.S. out of foreign conflicts. Since taking office, Trump has so far unsuccessfully sought to get peace deals in the Russia-Ukraine war and in the Middle East.
“These decisions are always a function of assessing risk accurately and your reward,” said Hickenlooper. “What do we get out of it? And I’m not sure what’s in it for the American people. That’s the argument the president ran on.”
“We run the risk of getting dragged into a much more serious conflict,” he continued, while noting he’s “100 percent” on the Israeli side. “But I’m not sure this is necessary to their survival for us to do something like this.”
Lawmakers are also worried about what their constituents back home are thinking.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said U.S. officials “need to be contemplative and look at all the ramifications.”
“I’d imagine every American’s like, ‘hoo, this situation’s spiraling,’” she said.
While Capito expressed concern, she also said she believes Trump will only strike Tehran if he feels fully compelled to do so beyond a reasonable doubt.
“I don’t really worry with this president because he doesn’t pay as much attention to the rhetoric, when the Ayatollah says, ‘ohhh we’ll ruin you,’” Capito said. “I just think … slow it down if you can, make sure you’re making the right decision. I trust the president to make the right decision, but it’s tough.”
According to one Senate GOP aide, the GOP conference has a “healthy mix” on the question of getting more involved.
At one end is Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close ally of Trump but also a hawkish member who is pushing for regime change. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) represents another end of the spectrum, and has called for the U.S. to stay out of the situation entirely.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told reporters Wednesday that he was wary of the U.S. getting increasingly ingrained in yet another conflict in the Middle East.
“I don’t want us fighting a war. I don’t want another Mideast war,” he told CNN. “I’m a little concerned about our sudden military buildup in the region.”
Hawley said he had spoke to Trump on Tuesday night.
“I think Trump’s message to them is if you don’t [give up nukes], you’re on your own with Israel,” Hawley said of the Iranians.
“I think all that’s fine. It’s a very different thing though for us to then say, but we are going to offensively … go strike Iran or insert ourselves into the conflict,” he continued, adding that a U.S. offensive is something “I’d be real concerned about.”
“I don’t think there’s a need for the United States to affirmatively insert ourselves,” he said.
Democrats are pressing for more information.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday told reporters that he requested an all-senators classified briefing that is set for early next week.
Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, separately expressed frustration about being kept in the dark.
“I’m a member, as you said, of the gang of eight and we’re supposed to know. I have no foggy idea what this administration’s plans are or what the foreign policy is vis-a-vis Iran,” he said on CNN on Wednesday afternoon.
The surprise for some Republicans is that it is clear Trump is seriously considering joining the assault on Iran. This is a shift given Trump’s aversion to foreign wars. The president has been a harsh critic of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) posted a meme on X exemplifying the MAGA coalition’s lack of enthusiasm for a more intense role in Iran.
Democrats, meanwhile, are divided on the possibility of asserting Congress’s authority over war powers amid talk of a U.S. strike on Tehran.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) launched a push to curb the president’s ability to launch a unilateral strike earlier in the week by rolling out his measure to require congressional authorization or a formal declaration of war before action can be taken.
However, only a few of his colleagues have backed his effort publicly, with leadership keeping their options open.
“Senate Democrats, if necessary, will not hesitate to assert our prerogatives and our ability on this bill,” Schumer said.
Republicans broadly believe that Trump has the authority to order a strike on Iran if he so chooses. The line they do not want to see crossed is the putting of troops on the ground in the region, and some of them do not see Trump taking that kind of step.
“We’re not talking about American boots on the ground,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). “That would be something different.”