Skip to main content

Republican Failure to Follow Their Own Words Endangers Our Democracy

Press Release Header

June 25, 2025

Once outraged by President Obama’s proposed attacks on Syria, the GOP is largely silent on Trump’s unconstitutional military action in Iran.

Contact:Alexis Torres(link sends email)

Washington, D.C.—Following the Trump administration’s abrupt cancellation of a classified Iran-Israel briefing to House lawmakers, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) released the following statement about the President launching an unconstitutional military strike on Iran:

“It has only been a dozen years since nearly 100 Republican colleagues demanded that President Obama seek Congressional approval for his proposed attack against Syria. Today, it appears most have ignored their own warning about the constitutional duty to consult and receive approval from Congress before engaging in an act of war.

“President Obama heeded their words. President Trump ignored them, abusing power and showing only contempt for the Congress and the Constitution.

“Many of those signers are still in the House, including the current Republican chairs of the House Appropriations Committee, the Judiciary Committee, former House Foreign Affairs Chair and four current Republican Senators.

“With the evidence coming forth that Trump misled the world on his claims of a ‘spectacular success,’ all that’s been obliterated is the credibility of Republicans who are displaying contradictions as big as Trump’s. Our democracy is endangered more and more by the contradictions of both Trump and his enablers.”

The Republican letter(link is external) to President Obama read in part:

“We strongly urge you to consult and receive authorization from Congress before ordering the use of U.S. military force [in Syria]. Your responsibility to do so is prescribed in the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

“While the Founders wisely gave the Office of the President the authority to act in emergencies, they foresaw the need to ensure public debate — and the active engagement of Congress — prior to committing U.S. military assets. Engaging our military [in Syria] when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.”

Background:

In 2013, President Obama was prepared to launch U.S. military strikes against Syria. Concerned members of Congress—Republican and Democrat—penned a warning(link is external) that such an attack without prior Congressional authorization would be unconstitutional. Thereafter, President Obama chose to hold off on engaging in an act of war. The strikes never happened.