Hawai‘i lawmakers in Washington share reactions following U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran

Hawai‘i’s delegation of lawmakers in Washington joined most of their Democratic colleagues — and surprisingly some Republicans — on Capitol Hill today (Feb. 28) in rebuking U.S. military attacks on Iran in a joint operation with Israel.

Perhaps as expected, Congress is divided largely along party lines in reaction to the strikes on multiple sites in the capital of Tehran and other locations throughout Iran.

Democrats call it “a war of choice” that should have required approval by lawmakers under the U.S. Constitution. Republicans are toeing the party line and supporting the attacks.

“A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran,” said President Donald Trump in a video message on social media platform Truth Social.

The attack began about 2:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time today, or about 9:30 p.m. Hawai‘i Standard Time on Friday.

Less than 2 hours later, Iran launched a counter-attack on Israel, and within 30 minutes later it retaliated by firing missiles at U.S. bases throughout the region in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, sending ripples throughout the Middle East.

“Iran is facing the severe consequences of its evil actions,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, leading GOP support for Trump’s actions in the Middle East.

He added that the president “made every effort to pursue peaceful and diplomatic solutions” to stop Iran’s acquisition of a nuclear weapon. Instead, it armed and funded terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

“The Trump Administration must explain itself to the American people and Congress immediately,” rebutted House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, in a statement.

Jeffries added Democrats plan to force a House vote next week on whether to authorize the use of military force against Iran.

Democratic New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim issued a statement calling for Congress to return to Washington and vote on a war powers resolution “as soon as possible this weekend,” calling the strikes “appalling.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, following Kim issuing his remarks, also called on Congress to vote on a war powers resolution, saying in a statement that the Senate should “quickly return to session and reassert its constitutional duty.”

Jeffries added that Trump “needs to provide an ironclad justification for this act of war, clearly define the national security objective and articulate a plan to avoid another costly, prolonged military quagmire in the Middle East.”

“Iran cannot be allowed to have nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them against us, and so there may be circumstances under which war would be our only option,” agreed U.S. Rep. Ed Case, a Democrat who represents Hawai‘i’s 1st Congressional District, in a statement today.

Case, who is a member of the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense and Homeland Security, said the U.S. Constitution and federal law do not permit a president to take the nation to war without authorization from Congress unless there is an imminent threat against it.

And then, only for a limited period, which is subject to approval by lawmakers.

“But as there has been no demonstration of an imminent threat to our country, this action is not authorized and that cannot be ignored,” the congressman’s statement said in regard to the military operation against Iran, which the Pentagon dubbed Epic Fury. “History teaches us that the grave risks and consequences of war are too great to allow any president to ignore these foundational checks and balances and act unilaterally.”

He echoed comments from his fellow Democratic colleagues in both chambers of Congress, saying Trump must “fully explain” the imminent threat the nation faces that would justify the military strikes and specific case for war.

Case also said Congress should “reconvene now” to get all the facts and vote as soon as possible to continue or end the military action.

“This is a war of choice and a mistake that knowingly risks the lives of U.S. service members and people in the region in the name of regime change,” said a statement by Hawai‘i Democratic U.S. Sen. Bryan Schatz. “The administration must de-escalate immediately. Congress needs to vote and make clear: we will not sign off on another needless war or repeat the deadly mistakes of the past.”

Trump said in his video message on Truth Social shortly after the strikes began that the objective of the U.S. joining with Israel for the military operation is to defend the American people by “eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”

He said its “menacing activities directly endanger the United States” as well as its troops, bases overseas and allies throughout the world.

“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted ‘death to America’ and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries,” Trump said.

Hawai‘i Democrat U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono — a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee — said in a statement that Trump has not articulated a clear strategy for what comes after the initial strikes.

“I fear that he is recklessly putting the lives of our servicemembers and personnel in the region at risk,” said Hirono, adding that Trump’s unilateral decision to strike Iran for purposes of regime change is a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress — not a president — the sole power to declare war.

With what seems to be Trump dragging the United States into what could become yet another endless war in the Middle East, she, too — like her Democratic colleagues on the Hill — called for Congress to take action much sooner than later to reassert its constitutional authority and prevent further escalation.

“Today, my thoughts are with American servicemembers and personnel and their loved ones as we work to ensure their safety and avoid a broader conflict,” Hirono said.

“We all pray for our servicemembers in harm’s way and their families and for the innocent lives that are being lost and shattered,” Case added.

Trump said in his video message that the United States military is undertaking “a massive and ongoing operation” to prevent the “very wicked radical dictatorship” in Iran from threatening America and its core national security interests.

He cited past actions by the Iranian government including the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, when dozens of Americans were held hostage when Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, detaining them for more than 400 days in the wake of a successful revolution by Islamic Fundamentalists against the pro-American Shah.

Trump called Iran the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror, saying it was Iran proxies that carried out the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, killing 241 American military personnel and that the Iranians knew — if not participated in — the 2000 attack on the USS Cole.

“Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq,” the president said. “The regime’s proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lands.”

Trump also claimed the Iranian government recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested.

“From Lebanon to Yemen, and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the Earth with blood and guts,” said the president.

He said the United States will no longer put up with the mass terror.

Iran also can never have a nuclear weapon, Trump said, and the United States can’t and won’t continue to accept the yo-yoing of Iranians, between agreeing to a nuclear deal, resuming its uranium enrichment program and repeat.

He added Iran also continues to develop long-range missiles, claiming it can now threaten U.S. allies in Europe, U.S. troops stationed overseas and “could soon reach the American homeland.”

Trump said “they just wanted to practice evil” and have “rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions.”

“This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States armed forces,” he said, adding there is no military on Earth close to matching the power, strength and sophistication of U.S. Armed Forces. “We’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.”

Trump sent a message to members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, armed forces and police: Put down your weapons and get “complete immunity” or face the ultimate finite alternative.

“You will be treated fairly with total immunity or will face certain death,” he said.

Trump also made a plea to the Iranian people, saying “the hour of your freedom is at hand,” so to stay sheltered and not to leave their homes because of the dangerous conditions happening outside: “Bombs will be dropping everywhere.”

But when the strikes and military operation are finished, he said it will be time for them to take over their government — it will be theirs for the taking, Trump said, and “probably your only chance for generations.”

“America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force,” the president said. “Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.”

Trump vowed that Iran “will be totally … obliterated” as the United States will annihilate them to make sure the regime can no longer destabilize the region or world and kill thousands of people.

He asked God to protect all of the U.S. service members who are selflessly risking their lives to accomplish the mission — acknowledging at the same time that his administration took every possible measure to minimize risk to U.S. Armed Forces in the region.

However, “the Iranian regime seeks to kill,” so there could be American casualties.

“That often happens in war,” Trump said, but he trusts that the men and women of the U.S. military — the greatest in the world — will prevail.

While reactions from Congress to the attack on Iran mostly fall along partisan lines, there are a handful of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill who aren’t simply bending the knee this time, creating micro divisions within each party.

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said he would again join U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, to force a vote on the War Powers Act.

“I am opposed to this war,” Massie said on social media. “This is not ‘America First.’”

Massie’s fellow House Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio said Thursday (Feb. 26) on social media that “war requires congressional authorization” and “no case has been made” for any action now against Iran.

He hasn’t commented publicly since the new military action began.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, another Kentucky Republican, said the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to initiate war, making “war less likely.” He opposes Trump’s “pre-emptive war” in the Middle East.

The senator also posted on social media that it was fourth President of the United States James Madison, and one of the major authors of the U.S. Constitution, who wrote it is the Executive Branch most prone to waging war.

That’s why the Constitution places war powers in the hands of Congress.

“As with all war, my first and purest instinct is wish Americans soldiers safety and success in their mission,” Paul added. “But my oath of office is to the Constitution, so with studied care, I must oppose another presidential war.”

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, also split from his party, supporting Trump and the attacks.

“President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region,” said Fetterman, who often voices opposing positions from his party, on social media.

Part of the information for this story was gleaned from several national and international news outlets: BBC, NPR, USA TODAY and NBC. Click each of the links to find more.