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By Andrew Stanton
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Some of President Donald Trump's most vocal critics, including both Democrats and Republicans, defended his decision to strike Iran over the weekend.
Why It Matters
Trump on Saturday said the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan—amid Tehran's ongoing conflict with Israel. American officials have long been concerned that Iran was working to develop nuclear weapons, that Iranian officials say its program is only focused on energy production.
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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified in March that Iran was not working on developing a nuclear weapon.
The strikes divided Americans, as polls suggest many are skeptical of the U.S. becoming involved in the conflict. Both Democrats and Republicans raised concerns about Trump not seeking congressional authority for the strikes and whether it could endanger American troops and civilians in the region. Others supported the strikes as a means to prevent Iran from having nuclear capabilities.
What To Know
Some Trump critics have supported the strikes. This includes both more traditional conservatives who broke with Trump over issues like the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol or his approach to other global affairs like the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as Democrats who have cast themselves as close allies to Iran.
Former Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois is among those anti-Trump Republicans who have supported the move. Kinzinger broke with Trump over the January 6 riot. Kinzinger supported former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election over Trump.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kinzinger called the strikes a "good call by the President."
"The US attack on the nuclear facilities is, in my opinion, the right call. We will see what the results are, but now the key is suppressing surface to surface missile fire, and then negotiate to end the fight with Iran," he wrote.
In another post, he wrote that the military "should be used to compel diplomatic action," and that a "nuclear armed Iran would have been unacceptable."
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John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser turned critic, backed the strikes in remarks on CNN.
"I think President Trump made the right decision for America to attack Iran's nuclear weapons program, and I think we're on the verge of potentially seeing regime change in Iran as part of that," Bolton said. "This is a huge change in the Middle East. Decisive action is the right thing to do. I thought somebody should do it for a long time, but better late than never."
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who challenged Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, said Trump deserves an "enormous amount of credit" for the strikes during an interview on ABC News.
"This is against type for him. I'm sure it was a difficult decision. I think his analysis was, he cannot live with a nuclear weapon in Iran, and Israel did all of the heavy lifting," he said.
Ex-GOP Governor Raises 'Great Doubts' About Trump's Iran Strikes to Newsweek
Some Republican critics raised concerns about the strikes.
Christine Todd Whitman, the former Republican governor of New Jersey who has been sharply critical of the party's shift toward Trump, told Newsweek she has "great doubts" about the decision.
"I think we all agree that Iran shouldn't have a nuclear weapon and I have to bow to intelligence reports that purportedly said they were within in a week or two of making that a reality," she said. "I can only hope that the intelligence is correct, but since this president doesn't seem to listen to his intelligence chief I have great doubts and wish he had pursued the disarmament talks further."
She noted that the strikes "should not have come as a surprise to Congress," and that it could "galvanize them to finally take back some of the powers they have ceded to the president."
Some Democrats Back Iran Strikes
Some Democratic Trump critics also voiced some support for the move.
Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida wrote in a series of posts on X that the strike appeared to be targeted to "defend the U.S., Israel, and allies throughout the region and the world."
"I've always held that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. That has been US policy throughout Democratic and Republican Administrations, and it is my hope that Iran no longer has the capabilities to continue its nuclear program. The world would be a safer place," he wrote.
Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland said the strikes were "essential to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon." Still, he said the threat of Iran developing a nuclear weapon became "dire" due to the Trump administration's decision to end the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018.
"Every American president since Jimmy Carter, regardless of party, as well as multiple generations of both Democratic and Republican leadership in Congress, articulated the bipartisan policy that allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons was unacceptable," he wrote.
What People Are Saying
Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican and Trump critic, on X: "President Trump's decision to carry out focused strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure makes clear that the international community will not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. I commend all those who executed this mission with precision and professionalism."
Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who has been critical of the strikes, on X: "This is not America First folks."
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, criticized the strikes on X: "The President's disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment."
What Happens Next
Iran has pledged retaliation for the strikes, and cities across the United States are preparing for the potential consequences. The conflict could have significant impacts for millions of people living in the region, as well as economic impacts that could reverberate back to the U.S.
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