In his first public remarks following the U.S. assassination on Iran's Major General Qassem Soleimani, President Donald Trump said the killing was an act intended to "stop a war. We did not take action to start a war."

"The world is a safer place without these monsters," Trump said, noting there had been an imminent threat to Americans in the region.

The president ordered the airstrike in Baghdad that killed Soleimani, one of the top Iranian military officials, and several others. However, on Friday Democrats quickly decried the president's failure to notify Congress and the bipartisan 'Gang of Eight' before making the decision to escalate tensions with the Middle Eastern power.

Meanwhile, Republicans have said this was a necessary action to deter the defiant nation from further aggression against the U.S.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis. 8th District), who serves on the House Armed Services Committee told Cheddar "You don't always have the luxury of being able to notify Congress," although he noted it is better to do so, when possible.

In the past, "when we have stepped up and said 'We are the superpower here,' we were able to convince them" to back down, Gallagher said. He called today's move a defensive action and said Iran usually backs down when "confronted with a credible American threat."

However, in the immediate aftermath of Soleimani's death, Iran did not appear to be backing down, as the nation's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei quickly promised severe revenge for the drone strike.

Soleimani, who led the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, played a large role in Iranian policy, which made him a target for years, but both presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama opted not to escalate tensions by ordering a strike against him. Soleimani bolstered Shiite influence in the region, supported Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and was behind hundreds of American deaths in Iraq. He and four other Iranian officials were designated as terrorists in 2011.

After Iranians took to the streets to protest and the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised retaliation, the Pentagon announced it will send 3,500 more U.S. troops to the region, further complicating the situation in the Middle East only months after the president vowed to bring home troops from Syria and Iraq. The U.S. said Soleimani was planning attacks on Americans in the region.

Democratic and Republican responses have been divided.

Speaking in front of an audience in Anamosa, Iowa on Friday, Democratic presidential contender Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said "Trump promised to end endless wars. Tragically, his actions now put us on the path to another war." Democrats have said the move was both imprudent and done without Congressional approval.

On the Senate floor, Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) noted the president failed to notify the top Congressional leaders usually briefed on military actions. However, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-S.C), who is not a member of the group, said the president did brief him during his trip to Florida. "I appreciate being brought into the orbit. I really appreciate President Trump letting the world know you cannot kill an American without impunity," Graham said on Fox & Friends.

Share:
More In Politics
Poll: More Americans think companies benefit from legal immigration
A new poll finds U.S. adults are more likely than they were a year ago to think immigrants in the country legally benefit the economy. That comes as President Donald Trump's administration imposes new restrictions targeting legal pathways into the country. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey finds Americans are more likely than they were in March 2024 to say it’s a “major benefit” that people who come to the U.S. legally contribute to the economy and help American companies get the expertise of skilled workers. At the same time, perceptions of illegal immigration haven’t shifted meaningfully. Americans still see fewer benefits from people who come to the U.S. illegally.
Tylenol maker rebounds a day after unfounded claims about its safety
Shares of Tylenol maker Kenvue are bouncing back sharply before the opening bell a day after President Donald Trump promoted unproven and in some cases discredited ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism. Trump told pregnant women not to use the painkiller around a dozen times during the White House news conference Monday. The drugmaker tumbled 7.5%. Shares have regained most of those losses early Tuesday in premarket trading.
Powell signals Federal Reserve to move slowly on interest rate cuts
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday signaled a cautious approach to future interest rate cuts, in sharp contrast with other Fed officials who have called for a more urgent approach. In remarks in Providence, Rhode Island, Powell noted that there are risks to both of the Fed’s goals of seeking maximum employment and stable prices. His approach is in sharp contrast to some members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee who are pushing for faster cuts.
Federal Reserve cuts key rate by quarter-point, signals two more cuts
The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation’s labor market. The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy. The only dissenter was Stephen Miran, the recent Trump-appointee.
Load More