Updated on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with comments from Reps. Wesley Bell and Emanuel Cleaver
Missouri and Illinois political figures are reacting to President Donald Trump鈥檚 decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran.
Trump that American B-2 bombers attacked Iranian nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Esfahan. That decision came about 10 days after Israel attacked Iran, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that he was trying to destroy Iran鈥檚 nuclear weapons program.
Shortly after Trump publicized the attack, several GOP members of the Missouri and Illinois delegations issued statements supporting the Republican president鈥檚 decision. Congressman Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, posted on X that 鈥淚ran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.鈥�
鈥淧eace through strength,鈥� said Graves, whose district takes in most of northern Missouri.
Congresswoman Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin, that 鈥淚ran was given every chance to get rid of its nuclear program, but instead of choosing peace the Ayatollah embraced violence and chaos.鈥�
鈥淧resident Trump was absolutely right to send our bombers in and strike the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities, and this decision will save American lives and protect our national security,鈥� Wagner said. 鈥淗e and I are in full agreement that we must achieve peace through strength, and today鈥檚 decisive strikes are a testament to that shared commitment. Iran cannot and will not have nuclear weapons and today is a direct result of the Ayatollah鈥檚 reckless choices.鈥�
Congressman Mark Alford鈥檚 4th District is home to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, He said on X that 鈥淧eace through strength requires strength.鈥�
鈥淲e strongly support President Trump鈥檚 targeted strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities,鈥� Alford wrote. "The Ayatollah must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and we will always stand with Israel.鈥�
The near-unanimous GOP support from Missouri and Illinois members of Congress came after a week of intense debate among Republicans. , including Tucker Carlson, and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green argued against attacking Iran. Carlson conducted a viral interview with Sen. Ted Cruz for not knowing population or demographic information about Iran.
But some Republicans who were fiercely critical of then-President Joe Biden for providing aid to Ukraine to repel Russia鈥檚 invasion offered praise for Trump鈥檚 decision. They include Sen. Eric Schmitt, stating 鈥淧resident Trump is a foreign policy realist not an ideologue.鈥�
鈥淗e has taken limited military action to achieve a crucial objective that is in the core national interest of the United States: preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons,鈥� said Schmitt, R-Missouri. 鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 want another Forever War. He wants peace. What happens now is up to Iran.鈥�
Illinois Congresswoman Mary Miller, an Oakland Republican is 鈥渁 great victory for the United States!鈥�
鈥淧resident Trump understands that peace through strength keeps America, and the world, safe and secure,鈥� Miller said.
And Illinois Congressman Mike Bost, , that he trusts 鈥渢hat President Trump made the decision to target Iran鈥檚 nuclear program tonight due to intelligence that indicates the regime was within reach of developing nuclear weapons that could threaten the lives of American citizens and U.S. troops stationed across the globe.鈥�
鈥淗e showed the strength to ensure that never happens,鈥� Bost said.
Budzinski says Congress should be involved
At least one Illinois Democrat, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, sharply condemned Trump鈥檚 decision to bomb Iran.
Duckworth, a combat veteran, noted that she ran for Congress 鈥渟o that when the drums of war started beating in Washington again, I鈥檇 be in a position to make sure that our leaders fully consider the true costs of war 鈥� not just in dollars and cents, but in the sacrifices and blood of our troops.鈥�
鈥淭he Trump Administration illegally bombed Iran tonight, putting American troops and citizens at risk of retaliation and threatening to draw us into yet another Middle East war without Constitutionally-required Congressional approval,鈥� Duckworth posted. 鈥淚 have long said Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. But this goal could and should have been pursued through diplomatic means first.鈥�
On Sunday morning, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin released a statement alluding to how Trump derailed a deal forged in the He added that "Trump鈥檚 actions in bombing Iran puts the U.S. on the brink of a wider war in the Middle East, all without Constitutionally-required Congressional approval.
"Our recent experiences in Iraq should be a stark reminder of becoming embroiled in wars in the Middle East," said Durbin, one of 23 senators who voted against the 2002 resolution
Before the news became public, Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski said on Saturday afternoon in Granite City that Congress should be involved in any decision to attack Iran.
鈥淟et me say Iran is obviously a sworn enemy of the United States, and I do support Israel's right to defend itself against Iran's increasing aggressiveness,鈥� Budzinski said. 鈥淏ut I'd like to remind the president that it takes an act of Congress, specifically Congress, to start doing an act of war. And so what I would be advocating for is aggressive diplomacy to ensure that Iran does not get nuclear capability 鈥� aggressive diplomacy and then consultation with the United States Congress.鈥�
By Sunday afternoon, both of Missouri's Democratic members of Congress 鈥� Reps. Wesley Bell and Emanuel Cleaver 鈥� issued statements that were critcal Trump's actions.
Bell, D-St. Louis County, said "he never for a second doubted our military鈥檚 ability to strike its targets." But he added that "taking out facilities is the easy part. It鈥檚 what comes next that鈥檚 hard 鈥� and we鈥檝e seen how this story goes."
"Launching airstrikes without consulting Congress, without a clear strategy, and without providing transparency to the American people is not an acceptable path forward. I am also extremely worried that the massive risk of escalation will further put our service members at risk," Bell said. "If we desire peace in the region, we can never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. It would be incredibly naive to believe that if Iran obtained a nuclear weapon that they would not use it. But the Administration has an obligation to brief Congress and outline their objectives for the timing of this action.
"We cannot be dragged into another war in the Middle East by those who have learned nothing from the last two decades," he added.
Cleaver were unconstitutional without congressional authorization.
"I remain hopeful that the Iran鈥檚 nuclear capabilities have been seriously weakened or destroyed. However, I鈥檓 concerned that Trump鈥檚 actions threaten to trap the U.S. in an escalating conflict," Cleaver said. "Recently both Democratic and Republican presidencies have felt comfortable in overstepping their article 2 constitutional authorities. This is a power grab. Any further military action must first be voted on by Congress."
As of 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, hadn't commented on Trump's Iran strikes. Hawley last week to reporters in Washington, D.C., that he was
"I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 a need for the United States to affirmatively insert ourselves," Hawley
