Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez raised the possibility of impeaching President Trump over his decision to launch airstrikes against Iran without first obtaining direct authorization from Congress. Her comments stood out sharply within the Democratic Party, where most lawmakers have resisted entertaining the idea of impeachment despite their strong disapproval of the military action.
In recent days, Democrats who have floated impeachment such as Reps. Shri Thanedar and Al Green have faced criticism from within their own ranks. The reaction to Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks is likely to reflect that same internal tension. When asked, the White House did not immediately issue a response regarding her comments.
Ocasio-Cortez took to social media to accuse Trump of overstepping his constitutional authority. She wrote that his decision to bomb Iran without Congressional approval was a serious breach of the Constitution and of Congress’s war powers. She described the action as reckless and dangerous, warning it could lead to a prolonged conflict that entangles the U.S. for years to come. She concluded that Trump’s conduct “absolutely and clearly” justified impeachment.
Shortly after her online post, her campaign sent out a fundraising email hinting that more updates on her position would follow. While her stance is more aggressive than that of most Democrats, it captures the intensity of the reaction across the party.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also condemned the president’s decision, stating that Trump bypassed Congress and risked dragging the U.S. into another destabilizing war in the Middle East. Jeffries emphasized that Trump alone would be responsible for any negative outcomes resulting from his decision to act unilaterally.
