Senator Tammy Baldwin told WISN-TV’s “UPFRONT” that President Trump’s strikes on Iran are illegal, but continues to ignore the fact that they are well in line with every president’s use of war powers.
Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin said Sunday she remains unconvinced by the Trump administration’s case for military action against Iran and demanded an immediate end to U.S. involvement, calling it an “illegal war.”
“I’m concerned about the intended consequences of getting into this war illegally,” Baldwin told WISN-TV’s “UPFRONT.” She added that the U.S. faced “no imminent threat of attack” and “was not under attack,” conditions she said are required for presidential action without Congress.
Baldwin said she entered last week’s classified briefings “wanting to hear why this president took action without seeking congressional authorization” and was prepared to accept an imminent danger — but heard none.
The comments come as thousands of Americans continue urgent evacuations from the Middle East amid the conflict. Baldwin described a “very chaotic process” by the administration in assisting U.S. citizens, with her office helping coordinate charter and military flights to safe countries where commercial aviation remains available.
She rejected any future support for the operations, while acknowledging Iran’s regime as “dangerous and murderous” with ballistic missiles and a nuclear program. Baldwin blamed former President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal during his first term for setting the current course.
Baldwin’s claim of illegality overlooks long-standing precedent: Congress has not formally declared war since 1942 against the last Axis powers. Every president since — Democrats and Republicans alike — has ordered military action without such a declaration, including in Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Libya, Iraq, Syria and against ISIS.
The Constitution grants the president authority as commander-in-chief to respond to threats, a power upheld across administrations.
