Pelosi said Congress wasn't consulted, certainly did not authorize Trump's strike on Iranian general


After the Pentagon announced that President Trump had ordered Thursday's deadly drone strike on a top Iranian general, Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, and before the State Department urged U.S. citizens to "depart Iraq immediately" amid Iran's threats of retaliation, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that Trump had "put the lives of American servicemembers, diplomats, and others further at risk by engaging in provocative and disproportionate actions."
The Trump administration targeted "high-level Iranian military officials" and killed Soleimani "without an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) against Iran" and "without the consultation of the Congress," Pelosi said in a statement. "The full Congress must be immediately briefed on this serious situation and on the next steps under consideration by the administration, including the significant escalation of the deployment of additional troops to the region." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also wasn't forewarned, CNN's Manu Raju reports, and the "Gang of Eight didn't have a formal briefing." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not put out any statement on Soleimani's killing.
Reaction in Congress was mixed and generally broke down along party lines.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The leading Democratic presidential candidates agreed this is a dangerous escalation. Former Vice President Joe Biden said Trump has "tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox" and brought the U.S. to "the brink of a major conflict across the Middle East." Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said while Soleimani "was a murderer, responsible for the deaths of thousands, including hundreds of Americans," America's "priority must be to avoid another costly war." Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tweeted that "Trump's dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars," echoing comments he made on Face the Nation after Trump's aborted attack on Iran six months ago.
Pete Buttigieg has not yet tweeted about the attack.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Tea app hack: user data stolen from women's dating safety app
In The Spotlight Data leak has led to fears users could be targeted by men angered by the app's premise
-
The Assassin: action-packed caper is 'terrific fun'
The Week Recommends Keeley Hawes stars as a former hitwoman drawn out of retirement for 'one last job'
-
The EPA wants to green-light approval for a twice-banned herbicide
Under the radar Dicamba has been found to harm ecosystems
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office