Democrats: Trump ‘really needs to come to Congress’ to approve strikes on Assad – CNN
Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Trump would need a war authorization to bomb Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Like the Obama administration, the Trump administration has launched airstrikes against ISIS using legal justification from the 2001 war authorization that passed after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. But that would not cover Assad, Cardin argued.
"If we decide to do military in Syria, he really needs to come to Congress," Cardin said. "In regards to an attack against the Assad government, there is no authorization."
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat who has pushed for a war authorization against ISIS, also argued Trump would not have the authority to attack the Assad regime.
"Dropping bombs inside a civil war was a bad idea in 2013, it's a worse idea in 2017," Murphy said. "It will make some Americans feel better, but it will make that battle space more chaotic and end up with more people getting killed, not less. And again, he doesn't have the authorization from Congress to do this."
Rep. Jackie Speier, a Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, told CNN's Erin Burnett that Congress should evaluate and decide on a war in Syria before Trump moved in on his own.
"I think if we are going to put boots on the ground, we have to authorize the use of force," Speier said. "That should be something debated by the Armed Services Committee and by the full House. We must engage in wars first by evaluating them and Congress taking action, not by allowing the President to act independently, which has been going on now for two decades."
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, said in the short-term, the President has the authority to take action without getting congressional approval first.
"The prudent course of action would be for him to go to Congress and consult, discuss privately what he is going to do," Corker said. "I'm sure they will take that course of action, or at least I hope they would. So, they have the authority without that, but my sense is that they will come to us."
When Obama tried to get authorization to strike Assad, Republicans were reluctant to get on board to vote for it, Cardin said.
This time, he added, there could be an easier path, especially if it's tailored specifically to respond to the chemical attack.
"Certainly if it's well tailored toward the chemical weapons violations, you might be able to do it," he said.
It's not just Democrats who want Trump to come to Congress. Sen. Rand Paul, known for his libertarian ideology, told Fox News Radio, "Short of Congress voting on it, I'm opposed to illegal and unconstitutional wars."
"The first thing we ought to do is probably obey the Constitution," Paul said on "Kilmeade and Friends."
At the same time, the situation on the ground in Syria is more complicated for Trump now than it was back in 2013, as Russia has gotten involved militarily to bolster the Assad regime.
Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, said he was most concerned about a large US ground force deploying to Syria, but noted that Russia makes even trying to ground Syria's air force difficult.
"It gets complicated because it's not only Assad's air force, it's Russia's air force," King said.
CNN's Ted Barrett, Eli Watkins and Dana Bash contributed to this report.
See the rest here:
Democrats: Trump 'really needs to come to Congress' to approve strikes on Assad - CNN
- Wont have anywhere to hide: Democrats are eager to pick apart the GOP megabill - Politico - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Flailing Democrats need to build coalitions, not primary their own members - The Hill - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- More than 50 House Democrats demand answers after whistleblower report on DOGE - NPR - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Mecklenburg County Democrats Chair Fights For Another Term - The Assembly NC - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Democrats hope to add a 'Green Amendment' to the Wisconsin Constitution - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Trump tariffs have Democrats seeing an outside chance in this red state - The Washington Post - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Bernie Sanders says Democrats have 'paid a political price' for not listening to the working class - NPR - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- The next AOC? Young Democrats are aiming to topple incumbents inside their own party - NPR - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- After Mecklenburg Democrats post-election turmoil, will party pick a new leader? - Charlotte Observer - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Sen. Bennet during town hall asked repeatedly why Democrats arent doing more to combat Trump - Colorado Newsline - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Rising Michigan senator urges Democrats to stop being 'weak and woke' and 'f---ing retake the flag' - Fox News - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- "Shocked and Disgusted." UA Democrats respond to news of President Trump at UA - WBMA - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Analysis | The DNCs David Hogg knows which Democrats he wants to oust - The Washington Post - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- OPINION: Why Arent Democrats Like Michael Bennet Challenging the Trump Administration? - Pagosa Daily Post - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Democrats Launch Inquiry Into Dismantling of Administration for Community Living - Mother Jones - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- David Hogg wants "ineffective" Democrats out of Congress - The Washington Post - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Are Aging Democrats Finally Getting the Message? - Rolling Stone - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- A warning for Democrats from the Gilded Age and the 1896 election - The Conversation - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Democrats 'Failing to Meet the Moment,' Party Vice Chair Warns - Newsweek - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Democrats Lost Them: Heres Why 2020 Biden Voters Sat Out The 2024 Election - Rolling Stone - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Opinion | Have the Democrats found their version of Trump? - The Washington Post - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- These Sick Criminals Are Who Democrats and the Legacy Media Are Defending - The White House (.gov) - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Obama, Healey, more Democrats praise Harvard for rejecting Trump administration's demands - Fall River Herald News - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Lawsuit alleging fraud could leave Democrats with no candidate in Onondaga Countys 9th District - Syracuse.com - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Scoop: Top House Democrats are trying to send a delegation to El Salvador - Axios - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- WA Democrats propose 5 new tax bills on Tax Dayand theyre coming for the big dogs - MyNorthwest.com - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Democrats dislike the chaos of Trumps trade war but are OK with some tariffs - AP News - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Get an Unconventional Candidate in the Race Against Joni Ernst - notus.org - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Democrats newest villain is a power player youve never heard of - Politico - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Washington Senate Democrats amend 'Parents Bill of Rights' - MyNorthwest.com - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Never had an auditor do something like this. Diana DiZoglio fights, polarizes her fellow Democrats. - The Boston Globe - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- New books chart Bidens downfall and the picture is damning for Democrats - The Guardian - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Democrats accuse GOP senators of affirmative action for Iowa med school - Iowa Capital Dispatch - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Rep. Josh Harder on why Democrats should be angrier at the status quo - Roll Call - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Republicans Less Trusted on Economy Than Democrats For First Time in Years - Newsweek - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Trump rode to victory on the economy. Democrats see a way to flip that on its head. - Politico - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- The Next Generation of Democrats Dont Plan to Wait Their Turn - The New York Times - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Live updates: Democrats seize on volatility of Trump trade policies - The Washington Post - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The middle is disappearing: Why three dealmaking Senate Democrats are heading for the exits - CNN - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats problem isnt just messaging its the electoral math | David Daley - The Guardian - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The House: Democrats Favored on What Starts as a Small Battlefield - Sabato's Crystal Ball - Center For Politics - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Four Democrats join Republicans to pass SAVE Act bill that requires proof of citizenship to vote - The Independent - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats running for California governor take digs at Kamala Harris' delayed decision on the race - Los Angeles Times - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Grill Officials on Insider Profits From Trumps Tariff Reversal - Mother Jones - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The Early Signs These Democrats Are Running For President in 2028 - The Daily Beast - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- House Republicans and Democrats say the US must maintain its troop totals in Europe - AP News - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats look to force Republicans to choose between backing Trump or lessening tariff pain - CNN - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The Democrats Wont Acknowledge the Scale of Trumps Tariff Mess - The Atlantic - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats reveal their top targets to flip in 2026 - Politico - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats Can Be the Party That Wants to Make Americans Rich - The New York Times - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Virginia elections will test the backlash against Musk and Democrats are ready with a plan - The Guardian - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats wrestle with how hard to swing away from tariffs - Semafor - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- With protests and action, Democrats just had their best week since Election Day - MSNBC News - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | Another Group the Democrats Should Stop Taking for Granted - The New York Times - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Shouting 'Insider Trading!' After Trump's Tariff Pivot Need To Sit This One Out For Obvious Reasons - OutKick - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Had a Messaging Problem. Trump Just Solved It for Them. - New York Magazine - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Banking Democrats Call on Chairman Scott to Hold Hearing on Trumps Disastrous Use of Emergency Powers to Impose Tariffs and Cause Chaos for American... - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats look to make a play for GOP turf with surge of new candidates - Politico - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- AIPAC attacks Democrats who voted to stop arms sales to Israel - The Forward - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Elon Musk Helped Democrats Get Their Act Together, But What If He Goes Away? - HuffPost - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Oregon Democrats unveil ambitious road funding proposal. Now the haggling begins - Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Bernie Sanders is drawing record crowds as he pushes Democrats to 'fight oligarchy' - NPR - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- The Democrats' 10 theories driving the party's crisis - Axios - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats Are Taking Their Anger Out on Chuck Schumer - The Wall Street Journal - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Column | Democrats confront the wrath of their voters, just as Republicans have - The Washington Post - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- We Dug Into the Polls. Democrats in Congress Should Be Very Afraid. - POLITICO - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats US tour gathers support in fight against Trump: Get angry, man - The Guardian US - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- The Democrats Are Losing the Social Media Wars. This Young Socialist Is Changing That. - POLITICO - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats clashed over their shutdown strategy. But the party's identity crisis runs far deeper - The Associated Press - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Harris dominates in new poll on who Democrats would back in 2028 - with AOC in third - The Independent - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- With Democrats in disarray and Trump on the attack, many ask what is the way forward - Colorado Public Radio - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- They hate us: Democrats now fear midterms could result in their ouster as voters want candidates to take on Trump - Yahoo - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Opinion | The Last Thing Democrats Need Is Their Own Tea Party - The New York Times - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats feel the heat at town halls, too: From the Politics Desk - NBC News - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- I wish youd be angry. California Democrats face voter fury over Trump, Elon Musk - Los Angeles Times - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- The spending bill fight split Democrats. 2 strategists offer takes on party's future - NPR - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Amid Schumer Backlash, Heres Whos Vying to Lead Democrats - TIME - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Politics have changed but the Democrats havent they are old and out of touch | Moira Donegan - The Guardian - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats are desperately searching for new leaders. AOC is stepping into the void. - NBC News - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- California Democrats are in control. So why are they worried? - POLITICO - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]