Top Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Chris Van Hollen accused many Republicans of surrendering Congress's constitutional checks on the Trump administration amid the US campaign related to Iran. They warned that a reluctance to challenge the executive has left Congress unable to rein in military action that has cost tens of billions and led to hundreds of injuries and 18 deaths. Recent House and Senate votes to limit the president's authority have produced narrow outcomes, and Democrats say midterm gains and voter pressure could restore oversight.
Top Democrats Say GOP Has Become 'Gelatinous Blobs' for Failing to Check Trump on Iran
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, right, with Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, in November 2022.Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images
Senior Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Van Hollen accused many Republican lawmakers of abdicating Congress's constitutional role by refusing to check President Donald Trump over the US campaign related to Iran.
Speaking in Michigan while campaigning for Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Warren delivered blunt criticism: "The Republicans have all had their spines surgically removed. I mean, they're just gelatinous blobs that kind of make it through the United States Senate."
Warren reminded listeners that the Constitution creates three separate branches of government to check and balance one another, and argued that those safeguards are eroding because too many Republicans are unwilling to challenge the executive.
Votes, Costs and Casualties
The campaign against Iran, which began in February, has cost the US tens of billions of dollars. Officials say hundreds of US service members have been wounded and 18 killed since the operation began, and a tentative peace deal has broken down in recent weeks.
Congress has made several attempts to reassert war powers. The House recently passed a withdrawal resolution directing the president to remove US forces from Iran on a 214-208 vote, with four Republicans joining Democrats. In the Senate, efforts to constrain the president's authority have failed narrowly; reported margins vary but the most recent vote was decided by a single vote, leaving challengers short of the majority needed.
Democrats Push For Oversight
Senator Van Hollen, who introduced a war powers measure, called the conflict "a senseless war" that "should never have started." He said Congress ultimately must cut off funding to force an end to the operation: "And I will not vote for a dime for this illegal war," he added, noting he would oppose further funding requests from administration proponents.
"At some point, these Republican senators are going to have to explain to their constituents why they've contracted out their constitutional responsibilities to Donald Trump," Van Hollen said. "So long as you have a majority of senators who are turning over their constitutional responsibilities to Donald Trump, then they're just rubber stamps for Donald Trump's illegal war."
Both Democrats said they hope that midterm elections and strong voter opposition to the campaign will force Republican senators to resume their oversight duties. A recent Washington Post–Ipsos poll found 29% of Americans approve of the administration's handling of the situation with Iran, while 69% disapprove.
Warren added that if Democrats regain control of one or both chambers of Congress, combined with public pressure, lawmakers could restore proper checks on the executive: "I think we are able to rein in Donald Trump and advisers who push for escalation, even if they bring gallons of testosterone," she said.
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