Minutes before the news broke Saturday that American bombers had struck Iran without congressional approval, US Sen. Mark Warner was addressing Virginia Democrats gathered at Richmond’s Main Street Station for an annual fundraiser.
“God knows, if there's anything we should have learned in this country, it's a hell of a lot easier to start a war in the Middle East than to stop one,” said Warner to applause.
But in reactions from Virginia’s congressional delegation in the hours after President Donald Trump announced strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the state’s Democrats focused most of their criticism on the process behind Trump’s decision to bomb Iran without congressional approval or standard notification — with others also weighing in on whether the US should involve itself further in the war between Israel and Iran.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told Congress in March that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapon.
US Sen. Tim Kaine, who called the airstrikes reckless and “horrible judgement,” and Rep. Eugene Vindman (7th) called for congressional votes on the issue while casting doubt on the long-term usefulness of military action.
Last week, Kaine introduced a war powers resolution that would have barred the use of US military forces in offensive operations against Iran without further congressional approval. Reps. Thomas Massie (R–Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D–Calif.) introduced a similar resolution in the US House, though Speaker Mike Johnson (R–La.) said Monday he “[didn’t] think this is an appropriate time for a war powers resolution.”
Vindman and 11 other Democratic veterans in Congress, including Rep. Bobby Scott (3rd), wrote a letter saying they would push for a war powers resolution.
“I will push for all Senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war,” said Kaine in his statement.
Rep. Jennifer McClellan (4th) said military action should only be pursued when diplomatic efforts have been exhausted.
“Using force that at best merely delays nuclear weapons development by a few years will not bring long-term success,” her statement reads.
Rep. Don Beyer (8th) — a co-sponsor of the Massie–Khanna resolution — said he was against “regime change” in Iran in a post on X.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (10th) said the American people “deserve more say in the process before being potentially dragged into a war,” but did not explicitly weigh in on military action.
Warner did not rule out further military action, but said Trump needed to seek congressional approval.
“Launching direct military strikes without authorization from or consultation with Congress raises urgent questions,” said Warner in a statement later. “The American people deserve more than vague rhetoric and unilateral decisions that could set off a wider war. The president must come before Congress immediately to articulate clear strategic objectives.”
Four of Virginia’s Republican members of Congress issued statements in support of Trump’s decision. Rep. Ben Cline (6th) said Trump acted “constitutionally,” Rep. Jen Kiggans (2nd) said she supported the president’s decision, and Rep. Rob Wittman (1st) said it was the “right decision.” Rep. John McGuire (5th) said on Newsmax Sunday that it was “an exciting time.”
Kiggans and McGuire served in the military.
Virginia’s 11th Congressional District is currently without a representative following Rep. Gerry Connolly’s death in May. There are 10 Democrats looking to succeed Connolly who will undergo a firehouse primary on June 28.
Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw and state Sen. Stella Pekarsky (D–Loudoun) both said they would vote against war, and Del. Irene Shin (D–Fairfax) said she would vote for Kaine’s war powers resolution.
