With the attack on Iran and the call to the Iranian people to overthrow their government, Donald Trump has embarked on what the New York Times he called it “the ultimate war by choice.” Unlike his predecessors, Trump put American forces and, in an era of terrorism and cyberattacks, perhaps even civilians, at risk, without spending months preparing the groundwork for war. He never presented evidence of an imminent threat, nor did he answer the question of why a nuclear program he claimed to have “annihilated” 8 months ago is suddenly on the verge of being reborn.
Not even in his pre-recorded video did he ever explain why, in the pantheon of threats looming over the United States, a weakened Iran occupies first place. All this has alarmed the anti-interventionist wing of the party. Even among Trump’s base, some alt-right Maga figures, including Milo Yiannopoulos and Cassandra MacDonald, described the decision as “evil and disgusting.” The far-right exponent Nick Fuentes wrote in X: «ISRAEL IS DRAGNING US INTO WAR. AMERICA FIRST ALL.”
VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE tried to reassure Maga supporters, stating that it will not be a prolonged conflict without a clear strategy, but many Republicans recall that in the past similar military operations have exactly led to long chaotic wars, with a high human cost.
The attack led left-wing and far-right groups to share on social platforms a video from 2025 in which the far-right activist Charlie Kirk, killed months ago, speaks of the “United States obsession with Iran” as “pathologically sick”. Former Congresswoman Maga Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X: “We voted for America First and ZERO wars.” And he called the Trump administration “a bunch of sick, fucked-up liars.” For conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson, the choice to attack is “absolutely disgusting.”
“There is a high probability that Iran will activate sleeper terrorist cells within the United States in the coming days and weeks – Alex Jones, a well-known far-right conspiracy theorist, wrote on
FROM THE FILES OF POLITICIANS of the right currently in office, another issue has also arisen: that of yet another military move made by Trump unilaterally, without going through a vote in Congress. Republican Senator Rand Paul complains about it: «The Constitution gave Congress the power to declare or start a war for a reason, to make it less likely. As with any war, my first and purest instinct is to wish the American soldiers safety and success in their mission. But my oath is to the Constitution, so, with studied care, I must oppose another presidential war.”
While the House and Senate are unlikely to rein in the president, bipartisan supporters of the legislative branch’s powers in the event of war want it all on the record, and next week on Capitol Hill there will be a vote to end the US military campaign in Iran, in what will be a veritable referendum on Trump’s decision to launch a new war in the Middle East.
«THE AMERICAN PEOPLE is tired of regime change wars that cost us billions of dollars and put our lives at risk,” Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, co-leader of the House initiative, said in a video message. “Every member of Congress must publicly declare how they will vote.” The Senate is not expected to return to session until this evening, and a vote on a resolution on Iran is expected as early as Tuesday. The House, however, is not expected to hold votes until Wednesday. Republican Thomas Massie, who is leading the effort with Khanna, said it was critical to protect Congress’ constitutional role in waging war.
But beyond the references to the Constitution, the political fact is different: the White House has already chosen. Congress will be able to discuss, vote and record dissent. In the meantime, however, the United States entered the war, without a clear mandate and with a divided country.
