Rep. Thomas Massie accuses Trump of dragging the US into war with Iran, sparking a sharp rebuke from the president.

Massie Calls Iran Strikes ‘Act of War’

Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is at the center of a fierce Republican debate following the US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Massie, a libertarian-leaning conservative and long-time skeptic of foreign intervention, expressed that he felt “misled” by President Donald Trump’s decision to authorize the strikes, which he argues contradict Trump’s campaign promises.

“I didn’t think he would let neocons determine his foreign policy and drag us into another war,” Massie told reporters, warning that such moves risk alienating the Republican base ahead of upcoming elections. He further asserted, “He’s engaged in war. We are now a co-belligerent in a hot war between two countries.”

US stealth bombers struck three major Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities, an operation that Trump and other GOP leaders hailed as a significant military success. “Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” Trump said Saturday night, adding that further aggression from Iran would provoke even greater retaliation.

War Powers Debate Escalates

While Trump’s administration maintains that it is not seeking war with Iran, Vice President JD Vance clarified on national television, “We’re not at war with Iran. We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program.” Massie, however, dismissed these statements as “ludicrous,” insisting that direct US involvement in ongoing hostilities with Iran amounts to an act of war and requires congressional approval.

Massie, in collaboration with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Senator Tim Kaine, has introduced a resolution aimed at preventing unauthorized military engagement with Iran. Despite expected resistance in Congress, Massie is pressing to bring the measure to a vote, arguing that “if this becomes a protracted engagement, we’re going to have to vote at some point.” He points to provisions in the War Powers Act that require congressional approval for ongoing military operations.

Trump Fires Back, MAGA Loyalty Questioned

In a series of social media posts, President Trump lashed out at Massie, labeling him “not MAGA” and accusing him of undermining both the administration and the military. “Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is,” Trump wrote, characterizing Massie as a “negative force” and a “grandstander” who “almost always votes ‘NO.’” Trump suggested he would support a primary challenger to Massie, calling for the Republican base to “drop this pathetic LOSER.”

Trump defended his decision to strike Iran’s nuclear sites as both constitutional and necessary, citing decades of Iranian hostility and the urgent need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He accused Massie of being “disrespectful” to the military and unwilling to put America first.

This dispute between Trump and Massie underscores a broader struggle in Washington over presidential war powers, congressional oversight, and the future of US foreign policy in the Middle East. As the conflict with Iran continues to unfold, the rift highlights growing questions within the Republican Party about military intervention and the constitutional limits of executive authority.