Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said President Trump’s decision to order airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites amounts to an impeachable offense. Her comments came shortly after Trump announced the U.S. had carried out a successful military operation in Iran, striking key nuclear facilities, including the Fordow site, which is deeply buried in a mountain south of Tehran. Trump warned that additional strikes could follow if Iran refused to engage in peace negotiations.
While a number of Democrats criticized the strike as unconstitutional, Ocasio-Cortez went further, saying the president had violated the Constitution by bypassing congressional approval. She argued that the decision to bomb Iran without the consent of Congress broke war powers protocols and placed the country at risk of being drawn into a long and dangerous conflict. She said the president’s actions were reckless and clearly warranted impeachment.
Under Article I of the Constitution, Congress holds the power to declare war. However, presidents from both parties have historically used military force without prior approval from lawmakers. Ocasio-Cortez insisted that Trump’s unilateral strike on Iranian nuclear sites exceeded his constitutional authority and undermined the legislative branch’s role in matters of war.
The strikes occurred during a tense period following Israel’s preemptive attacks on Iran, which triggered a series of retaliatory missile exchanges between the two countries. Amid the escalating conflict, Washington had debated whether and how to respond, with many Democrats expressing concern over a broader U.S. entanglement in the region.
Although impeachment talk remains limited, with Democrats currently holding the minority in both the House and Senate, at least two Republicans voiced unease with Trump’s decision. Rep. Thomas Massie questioned the constitutionality of the strikes, and Rep. Warren Davidson also expressed skepticism, stating he was eager to hear more from the president about his rationale.
Trump was previously impeached twice during his first term once over Ukraine-related accusations and once over his role in the January 6th Capitol riot but was acquitted both times by the Senate.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Trump for not seeking congressional authorization before using military force but stopped short of advocating impeachment. Minority Whip Katherine Clark called the strike unconstitutional, echoing Ocasio-Cortez’s concerns.
The White House pushed back against criticism, saying Trump notified congressional leadership in advance and acted within his powers as Commander-in-Chief. Speaker Mike Johnson defended the move, stating the urgency of the situation justified swift military action and asserting that the president respects congressional war powers.
In addition to Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Sean Casten also called the strike an impeachable offense, arguing that a president cannot unilaterally authorize military attacks on nations that do not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He said the issue was not whether Iran should be targeted but whether the executive branch had overstepped its constitutional limits. He urged Republican leaders to recognize the seriousness of bypassing Congress on military decisions and warned that failure to do so would jeopardize the balance of power in the government.