Sen. Chris Murphy declares Trump’s military actions against Iran to be ‘illegal’ and ‘clear’ violations.

Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, described President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iranian nuclear facilities as “illegal.” However, when questioned about whether these actions warrant impeachment, Murphy refrained from making a direct statement, emphasizing that such decisions lie with the House of Representatives rather than the Senate. He affirmed, “That’s a decision the House makes.

But it is clear that this is illegal.” Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president can initiate military operations only with a declaration of war, congressional authorization, or in response to an immediate threat to the United States. Many Democrats contend that Trump’s strikes violate this resolution.

Recently, the Senate voted against a measure requiring Trump to seek congressional approval before undertaking further military actions against Iran. This decision largely aligned along party lines, with only Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, breaking ranks to support the Democrats. When asked if he agreed with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s assertion that Trump’s actions could lead to impeachment, Murphy commented on the president’s conduct, stating that his behavior in the current term is “much worse, much more lawless and much more unconstitutional” compared to his previous impeachment.

Despite two impeachments during Trump’s first term—neither resulting in a Senate conviction—Murphy acknowledged that Democrats currently hold minority positions in both chambers, making any impeachment efforts improbable. Murphy has maintained that Trump’s military decisions are illegal due to a lack of congressional authorization, claiming there is no evidence of an imminent threat from Iran. He also expressed that, if in a position of authority, he would have refrained from authorizing military strikes, particularly during negotiations aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution.