Some congressional Democrats and Republicans alike slammed President Trump for ordering military strikes on Syria without seeking congressional authorization:
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) called the strikes "illegal" and "reckless." "Today, it's a strike on Syria — what's going to stop him from bombing Iran or North Korea next?" Kaine asked. "The last thing Congress should be doing is giving this president a blank check to wage war against anyone, anywhere." Minority leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) gave more neutral responses, calling for caution and strategy without condemning the strikes.
On the other side of the aisle, libertarian-leaning Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) used language similar to Kaine's:
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a frequent Amash ally, tweeted a litany of questions for those, especially Republicans, supporting the strikes:
In the Senate, Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) likewise called on Trump to seek congressional authorization. Paul said on Fox News Thursday he objects to the idea that the president can just "go to war when he wants, where he wants."