Here are a selection of reactions tonight to the airstrikes in Syria from members of Congress.
As you can see, they range from supportive, supportive but wanting Congressional authorization for future actions, to various degrees of opposition. We have included a selection of Senators and Representatives from both parties and will update the post as we can with additional reactions.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY):
Tonight, the administration notified me of the president’s decision to use military action to deter Bashar al-Assad and respond to the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons against its own people. I support both the action and objective.
The tactics employed by the Assad regime to consolidate gains and terrorize the people of Syria defied the U.S. position that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable.
Last year, we undertook cruise missile strikes against the Shayrat airfield — from which aircraft used in a chemical weapons attack had been launched — and against assets of importance to the regime such as aircraft, hardened shelters, and air defense systems. These actions were intended to make clear to Assad that the use of chemical weapons would be met with a response.
Assad ignored that warning. He ignored the declaratory policy of the United States. He chose to terrorize the people of Douma.
The planning for this robust operation by the United States and our allies was clearly well-considered. It is evident that the President was provided with a number of options, and that our forces executed a challenging mission.
As I noted following last year’s action, our gratitude goes out to the world’s most capable military. Americans have become used to flawless execution on the part of our uniformed military — but of course, none of this could occur without years of training and investment, or the professionalism and dedication of our service members.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX):
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) April 14, 2018
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ):
I applaud the President for taking military action against the Assad regime, and I am grateful to our British and French allies for joining us in this action. To succeed in the long run, we need a comprehensive strategy for Syria and the entire region. https://t.co/2xrHwVGYKK
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) April 14, 2018
I applaud the President for taking military action against the Assad regime for its latest use of chemical weapons, and for signaling his resolve to do so again if these heinous attacks continue. I am grateful to our British and French allies for joining us in this action.
I hope these strikes impose meaningful costs on Assad. The message to Assad must be that the cost of using chemical weapons is worse than any perceived benefit, that the United States and our allies have the will and capability to continue imposing those costs, and that Iran and Russia will ultimately be unsuccessful in protecting Assad from our punitive response.
To succeed in the long run, we need a comprehensive strategy for Syria and the entire region. The President needs to lay out our goals, not just with regard to ISIS, but also the ongoing conflict in Syria and malign Russian and Iranian influence in the region. Airstrikes disconnected from a broader strategy may be necessary, but they alone will not achieve U.S. objectives in the Middle East.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL):
Tonight, our commander-in-chief ordered our military to defend America’s vital national security interest in preventing hostile regimes like Syria’s Assad regime from using chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. I salute the men and women of our Armed Forces who conducted this mission bravely and skillfully with our British and French allies. I urge the Administration to follow up with a real and comprehensive strategy for ending Assad’s threat to his people, to the region and to U.S. security, and for countering Russian and Iranian support for the Syrian dictatorship’s ongoing barbarity.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX):
Tonight, the United States responded to the atrocities of Bashar al-Assad.
As the President said, it is in our national interest to deter the use of chemical weapons. Critically, that includes preventing those chemical weapons from falling into the hands of the radical Islamic terrorist elements in Syria. It is now absolutely crucial that any further military action we take in Syria remains focused on protecting the vital national security interests of our country.
In addition to any military action that we may choose to take, we must also take action against Assad’s financiers. We should withdraw from President Obama’s disastrous Iran deal that is enriching the Iran government with billions of dollars, and those ill-gotten gains are in turn being funneled to Syria to prop up the Bashar regime.
In the days ahead, I look forward to the President making the case to Congress and the American people that his proposed course of action in Syria is in the national security interests of this country. But tonight, our support and prayers are with the brave Americans in uniform, as well as our trusted allies in France and the U.K., who carried out these military strikes.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC):
It is imperative that when an American president speaks and warns ruthless dictators not to use chemical weapons against innocent children, those statements actually mean something. #Syria
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 13, 2018
Assad:
1️⃣ Was warned by President Obama not to use chemical weapons.
2️⃣ Warned by President Trump not to use chemical weapons.
3️⃣ Continued to use chemical weapons against innocent children anyway.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 13, 2018
We should apply ‘3️⃣ Strikes, You’re Out’ out to the Butcher of Damascus.
He’s a monster. He should be considered a war criminal and legitimate military target.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 13, 2018
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT):
It is Congress, not the president, which has the constitutional responsibility for making war. The international community must uphold the prohibition against the use of chemical weapons, but it is unclear how Trump's illegal and unauthorized strikes on Syria achieve that goal. https://t.co/ps2HMIXZKu
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 14, 2018
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT):
My thoughts and prayers are with the American service men and women in harms way tonight. I look forward to hearing from the President about his strategy for Syria and whether he plans to seek authorization from Congress for any further use of force.
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 14, 2018
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL):
I support the attack because Assad must be held accountable for the use of chemical weapons.
— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) April 14, 2018
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK):
I’m pleased that @realDonaldTrump, with our allies, have launched this proportional response to Assad’s use of chemical weapons. See my full statement: pic.twitter.com/ue9auhxX3q
— Sen. Jim Inhofe (@JimInhofe) April 14, 2018
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR):
My statement on U.S. strikes in Syria: https://t.co/s1X1H0U8YW
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) April 14, 2018
The Butcher of Damascus learned two lessons tonight the hard way: weapons of mass destruction won’t create a military advantage once the United States is done with you and Russia cannot protect its clients from the United States. President Trump ought to sustain the attacks if Assad doesn’t learn these lessons, and Iran’s ayatollahs and Kim Jong Un might want to learn the easy way. We thank our old British and French friends for once again joining us in defending the civilized world.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ):
Tonight's airstrikes w/ British & French support underscore the importance of partners & alliances in achieving shared objectives
But to be clear: military strikes are no substitute for a real strategy
Sustained military action in Syria would require Congressional authorization pic.twitter.com/ElkLzNxVFQ
— Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) April 14, 2018
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA):
Tonight, the United States and our allies executed a strong and unified response to the Assad regime's recent attacks, making clear that their horrific crimes and use of chemical weapons against their own people will not be tolerated. Read my statement: https://t.co/xK6uXjBtQF
— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) April 14, 2018
Tonight, the United States and our allies executed a strong and unified response to the Assad regime’s recent attacks, making clear that their horrific crimes and use of chemical weapons against their own people will not be tolerated. The evidence produced is indisputable: Bashar al-Assad is a war criminal, and he will be held accountable for his actions.
Russia and Iran are complicit in these chemical weapons attacks on innocent populations. The Trump administration has shown decisive and precise global leadership. We must remain unified with our allies to put a stop to these continued attacks on the Syrian people once and for all.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA):
The barbarism from the Assad regime will not be tolerated. America and its allies are together to deliver the consequences from such heinous action. God bless our men and women in uniform.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) April 14, 2018
Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI):
These offensive strikes against Syria are unconstitutional, illegal, and reckless. The next speaker of the House must reclaim congressional war powers as prescribed in Article I of the Constitution. @SpeakerRyan has completely abdicated one of his most important responsibilities.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 14, 2018
Witness the hypocrisy that our two-party system breeds: Check out these similar letters warning the president about commencing offensive strikes against Syria without congressional approval.
2013 signers: 119 Rs, 21 Ds
2018 signers: 15 Rs, 73 Ds
Very few of us signed both. pic.twitter.com/40VEVtGwnq— Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 14, 2018
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA):
By illegally bombing Syria, President Trump has once again denied the American people any oversight or accountability in this endless war. Congress, not the president, has the power to authorize military action. https://t.co/9P25HQ8zq6
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) April 14, 2018
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY):
I haven’t read France’s or Britain’s “Constitution,” but I’ve read ours and no where in it is Presidential authority to strike Syria.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 14, 2018
Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA):
Assad must be held accountable for his horrific use of chemical weapons on his own people. But we don’t put our troops in harms way without a strategy. Pres. Trump must present one to the nation and Congress must vote.
— Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) April 14, 2018
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