WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Tensions flared as questions mounted at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday over the 补诲尘颈苍颈蝉迟谤补迟颈辞苍鈥檚 for as lawmakers demand answers over the strategy, exit plan and costs to Americans in lives and dollars for what is quickly becoming a .
Trump officials made their case at the Capitol during a second day of closed-door briefings, this time with all members of the House and Senate ahead of a looming vote intended to restrict Trump鈥檚 ability to continue the against Iran.
“The president determined we were not going to get hit first. It鈥檚 that simple,鈥� Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a testy exchange with reporters at the Capitol.
Rubio pushed back on his own a day earlier that Trump decided to strike Iran because Israel was ready to act first. Instead, he said Trump made the decision to attack this past weekend because it presented a unique opportunity with maximum chance for success.
鈥淭here is no way in the world that this terroristic regime was going to get nuclear weapons, not under Donald Trump鈥檚 watch,” he said.
The sudden pivot to a U.S. wartime footing has disrupted the political and policy agenda on Capitol Hill and raised uneasy questions about the risks ahead for a prolonged conflict and regime change after the . At least so far.
The situation has intensified the push in Congress for the 鈥� among the most consequential votes a lawmaker can take, with the war well underway 鈥� as administration officials are telling lawmakers they will likely need supplemental funds to pay for the conflict. It comes at the start of a highly competitive that will test Trump’s slim GOP control of Congress.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer left the closed hearing, saying he was concerned about 鈥渕ission creep鈥� in a long war.
Senators demand answers, and some cheer Trump on
Senators spent the morning grilling Trump officials during an Armed Services Committee hearing over Monday that the president, believing that Israel was ready to act, decided it was better for the U.S. to launch a preemptive strike to prevent Iran’s potential retaliation on American military bases and interests abroad.
Sen. Angus King, the independent from Maine, said it鈥檚 鈥渧ery disturbing鈥� that Trump took the U.S. to war because wanted to bomb Iran. Past U.S. presidents, he said, 鈥渉ave consistently said, 鈥楴o.鈥欌��
Defense official Elbridge Colby told senators the president directed the military campaign to destroy Iranian missiles and deny the country nuclear weapons.
Trump himself disputed the idea that Israel had forced his hand. In his own Oval Office remarks, he said, “I might might have forced their hand.鈥�
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Trump ally from Oklahoma, said the president 鈥渄id the world a favor.鈥�
鈥淗ow about we say, 鈥楾hank you, Mr. President, for finally getting rid of this nuisance,鈥欌�� he said.
But Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., demanded to know how this fits into Trump鈥檚 鈥淎merica First鈥� campaign promise not to commit U.S. troops to protracted military campaigns abroad.
Trump has suggested the war could drag on, and has not ruled out sending American troops into Iran.
鈥溾�橝merica First鈥� and 鈥榩eace through strength鈥� are served by rolling back 鈥� as the military campaign is designed to do 鈥� the threats posed,鈥� Colby responded. 鈥淭his is certainly not nation-building. This is not going to be endless.鈥�
What鈥檚 next for the Iranian regime and its people
Questions are growing over who will lead Iran after the death of Khamenei, who has ruled the country for decades, and worries of a leadership vacuum that creates unrest.
Democrats warned against sending U.S. military troops into Iran after more than two decades of war in Iraq and Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
鈥淚 am more fearful than ever we may be putting boots on the ground,鈥� said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., after the closed briefing.
And while House Republicans applauded in support of the Trump administration’s operations, warning signs flared.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he supports the operation, for now. 鈥淢y flag starts going up, the longer this goes, my flag starts going up, the more there鈥檚 boots on the ground,鈥� he said.
Many lawmakers expressed concern over the number of Americans calling their offices seeking help evacuating from the region as the war spreads. 鈥淚t’s getting worse, not better,鈥� said Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army Ranger.
Trump, in calling for Iranians to seize this opportunity to take back their country, has acknowledged the uncertainty.
鈥淢ost of the people we had in mind are dead,鈥� Trump said Tuesday. He also panned the idea of elevating Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran鈥檚 last shah, to take over in Iran.
Republicans insist it鈥檚 not for the Americans to decide the future of Iran.
鈥淭hat’s going to be largely up to the Iranian people,鈥� said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said flatly, 鈥淲e have no ability to get into the nation-building business.鈥�
War powers resolutions become a consequential vote
Both the House and Senate are preparing to vote on war powers resolutions that would restrain Trump’s ability to continue waging war on Iran without approval from Congress.
Under the U.S. Constitution, it’s up to Congress, not the president, to decide when the country goes to war. But lawmakers often shirk that duty, enabling the executive branch to amass more power to send the military into combat without congressional approval.
鈥淲hy are we spending billions of dollars to bomb Iran?鈥� said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who said there would be strong support from Democrats for the resolution.
But Johnson has said it would be 鈥渇rightening鈥� and 鈥渄angerous鈥� to tie the president’s hands at this time, when the U.S. is already engaged in combat.
Other lawmakers have suggested that if Congress does not vote to restrain Trump, it should next consider an Authorization of the Use of Military Force, which would require lawmakers to go on record with affirmative support for the Iran operation.
鈥淭he reason why there鈥檚 so much consternation on our side is because President Trump has not given us a clear reason why he is in Iran,鈥� said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. 鈥淚f he wants to declare war on Iran, that is the job and responsibility of Congress under the Constitution.鈥�
Former President George W. Bush sought, and received, authorization from Congress to launch the post-9/11 wars.
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Associated Press writers Stephen Groves and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
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