With tensions in the Middle East heating up fast and war drums beating louder, a surprising coalition is forming in Washington.
Progressive leader Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and libertarian-leaning Republican Thomas Massie are joining forces in an effort to prevent President Donald Trump from unilaterally launching the U.S. into a conflict with Iran.
Trump’s Sudden Moves Spark Worries
President Trump’s abrupt departure from the G7 summit in Canada raised eyebrows on Monday night.
He claimed he had an early morning Situation Room meeting back in Washington — and that timing wasn’t lost on lawmakers.
Especially not after his stark warning to Tehran residents to evacuate, as Israel reportedly intensified its military operations.
Massie and AOC Team Up to Push Back
In response to the escalating situation, Rep. Massie took to X (formerly Twitter), declaring that it’s time for Congress to reassert its authority under the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution — a Vietnam-era law that says if Congress hasn’t authorized military action, the president must pull back any troops within 60 days.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quickly signaled her support.
“Sign me on,” she replied publicly, signaling a rare bipartisan stand.
Massie plans to introduce a War Powers Resolution aimed at stopping U.S. involvement in Iran unless Congress gives explicit approval.
Can Congress Actually Stop a War?
Whether this last-minute team effort will gain traction remains to be seen.
The House is currently on recess, and while the Senate is still in session, it’s busy dealing with Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
With many lawmakers out of Washington or focused on other issues, the momentum behind the resolution may struggle to build quickly.
Still, there’s growing concern — and it’s not just from Massie and AOC. Senators Bernie Sanders and Tim Kaine are also sounding alarms.
Kaine stressed that entering another Middle Eastern war doesn’t serve U.S. national security interests and warned that America could get dragged into “another endless conflict.”
Sanders Points to Political Motives Behind Israeli Attacks
Bernie Sanders didn’t hold back in his assessment.
He suggested that Israel’s recent airstrikes — which reportedly killed Iranian negotiators, military officials, and nuclear scientists — were timed to sabotage the fragile U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.
Sanders, like Kaine, is urging caution and wants Congress to play a role before any military engagement is considered.
Kaine already introduced a Senate resolution to limit Trump’s powers in this specific scenario.
Legal Loopholes and Presidential Power Games
But even if Congress passes a resolution, it may not be enough to stop Trump.
Past presidents have found ways to stretch their authority — just look at Obama’s 2011 military campaign in Libya.
His administration argued that it didn’t need congressional approval because the mission didn’t qualify as “sustained hostilities.”
If Trump decides to strike Iran, his administration could very well try the same legal route — calling it a short, targeted operation rather than a war.
Israel Pressures U.S. for Direct Military Help
Meanwhile, Israel isn’t hiding what it wants from Trump: direct U.S. military involvement.
Officials are urging the president to authorize a bunker buster bombing campaign against Iran’s nuclear facilities — specifically, the highly fortified Fordow enrichment site buried deep in the mountains.
According to Israel, only U.S. military aircraft can deliver the type of 30,000-pound bombs needed to destroy the site, and they want those bombs dropped in a precise, repeated strike.
Trump in Talks with National Security Team
As of Tuesday morning, Trump was reportedly meeting with his National Security Council to discuss next steps.
It’s unclear if a decision has been made, but the signals coming from Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran all point to a potentially volatile few days ahead.