How South Florida's congressional delegation reacted to U.S. bombing of Iran
President Donald Trump is receiving something approaching bipartisan support from South Florida's congressional delegation after the United States bombed Iran late Saturday, though Democrats are taking a more cautious tone than their GOP counterparts.
Nationally, some members of Congress have expressed concerns about Trump acting without their approval, with some strongly opposing U.S. involvement in a bombing campaign first launched by Israel. But here, most of the South Florida congressional delegation is either celebrating the attack on Iranian nuclear facilities or at least avoiding criticism.
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Coral Springs Democrat, said on X Saturday night that the bombing of three facilities 'appears to be a targeted strike to defend the U.S., Israel, and allies throughout the region and the world.'
'Now, Iran must come to the table to finally make a deal,' Moskowitz wrote. 'Their regime has had multiple opportunities to pursue diplomacy, and perhaps today's events will push them to a safer path.'
Moskowitz was in support of Israel's initial attacks on Iran. So was fellow Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She joined Moskowitz on X Saturday night in saying that 'Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.'
However, both Wasserman Schultz and Moskowitz wrote that they hoped the Trump administration would contain any escalation of the conflict. They also noted Congress' role in overseeing and authorizing U.S. military action.
Wasserman Schultz told Local 10 that she was not in support of any further military action against Iran without that approval.
The tone from the two Democrats was less celebratory than Republicans in the South Florida delegation, who were in full support on their social media accounts. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar wrote she was grateful for Trump's decision. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart said he was 'proud of our exceptional military' and 'proud to stand by our ally Israel.'
'I FULLY BACK PRESIDENT TRUMP's DECISIVE ACTIONS & SUPPORT MORE STRIKES AGAINST IRAN's POLITICAL STRUCTURE IF THEY DO NOT SURRENDER!' Rep. Carlos Giminez, another Miami Republican, wrote on X.
But South Florida's congressional Democrats were also less critical than others in their party.
On Sunday, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said that 'Trump is not the leader we need at this moment,' and said he oversees 'an administration that operates lawlessly and runs on chaos, lies, and ignorance…'
'It's shameful that he is politicizing a critical moment in world history by excluding Democratic leadership and only including Republicans in the war decision,' Fried said. 'Iran must not have a nuclear weapon, but Donald Trump cannot be trusted to choose what is best for our country.'
Referencing the party's leadership conference that took place Saturday evening at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, where news that the United States had bombed Iran rippled through the audience, she said she 'saw the shock and fear on the faces of my colleagues backstage as we tried to process the gravity of what had just happened.'
Moskowitz and Wasserman Schultz were at the event. Moskowitz gave a speech after the bombing was first reported, but did not mention the attack, nor did the speakers that followed, including U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, of New Jersey. Wasserman Schultz also spoke, but before reports of the attack emerged.
Some members of the House and Senate have argued that authority to authorize military action against another country belongs to Congress, not Trump.
'The procedure should have been that Congress was briefed before we enter war, and that we had a vote on it,' Ro Khanna, a Democratic congressman from California, said Sunday on Face the Nation.
Khanna and Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky are calling on Congress to vote Monday on a war-powers resolution that would call on Trump 'to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.'
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat who represents a district that includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, issued a statement with a similar message, writing: 'The Constitution is clear: only Congress has the power to authorize war.' She wrote that any further action would be 'troubling overreach,' but stopped short of criticizing Trump's actions directly.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson had not issued a statement on the bombing as of 1 p.m. Sunday. Her office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
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