NBC News is calling it an “emerging coalition” and I guess there’s some truth to that. This is just what Tucker Carlson and MTG have been saying turned into a more direct effort to keep the US out of Iran.
A group of lawmakers spanning a broad ideological spectrum is raising alarms about the possibility of the United States taking an active role in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
The emerging coalition unites strange bedfellows, including some of President Donald Trump’s most fervent supporters and progressive Democrats, who have been vocal opponents of U.S. involvement in foreign entanglements in the years following the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, particularly without congressional approval. It could also represent a serious threat to the stranglehold Trump holds over the hard-right base of the Republican Party.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a libertarian who has not been afraid to buck Trump on fiscal issues, is teaming up with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calf., to attempt to force a vote on a war powers resolution that would require the administration to get approval from Congress before participating in the conflict in any meaningful way.
As mentioned, the coalition was launched yesterday by Rep. Thomas Massie.
This is not our war.
But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution.
I’m introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement.
I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 16, 2025
He quickly got support from AOC.
Signing on.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 17, 2025
Here’s Rep. Tlaib:
I look forward to supporting this War Powers Resolution. The American people aren’t falling for it again. We were lied to about “weapons of mass destruction” in Iraq that killed millions + forever changed lives.
It’s unconst’l for Trump to go to war without a vote in Congress. https://t.co/PJbtMtfwda
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) June 17, 2025
As of this morning, Rep. Massie is promoting his War Powers Resolution with Rep. Ro Khanna.
I just introduced an Iran War Powers Resolution with @RepRoKhanna to prohibit U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war.
This is not our war. Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. pic.twitter.com/LuIl59lt45
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 17, 2025
No war in Iran.
It’s time for every member to go on record.
Are you with the neocons who led us into Iraq or do you stand with the American people?
I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan War Powers Resolution with Rep. Massie that is privileged and must receive a vote. https://t.co/aCbwOiDiHI
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) June 17, 2025
Rep. Ilhan Omar has signed on.
I support this resolution because the American people do not want another war. https://t.co/IzQMrnpQrv
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) June 17, 2025
Rep. Summer Lee, one of the newer members of the Squad, is on board.
The President does not have the power to unilaterally declare war. Congressional authorization isn’t optional.
When some profit both financially and politically from endless war, the rest of us pay the price. We can’t let them lie us into another conflict that will cost innocent… https://t.co/g6TxF7Oja2
— Rep. Summer Lee (@RepSummerLee) June 17, 2025
As is Rep. Greg Casar. Basically every member of the Squad except Ayanna Pressley and Delia Ramirez have signing on to this. My guess is they are just busy and will sign on soon.
I’ve signed on. https://t.co/SyBf7wmI0T
— Congressman Greg Casar (@RepCasar) June 17, 2025
Rep. Don Beyer, Democrat from Virginia:
I’m in, signing on to this. https://t.co/RRc9tkpAXx
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) June 17, 2025
Rep. Jayapal is on board.
The Constitution is clear: Congress holds the sole power to authorize offensive military action.
The American people do not want another forever war, and the Trump admin does not have the authority to pull us into one. I’m co-sponsoring this resolution to prevent that outcome. https://t.co/opWAbW2McP
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) June 17, 2025
Rep. Chuy Garcia, Democrat from Illinois:
I’ve signed on. https://t.co/rMlzIUzOgN
— Congressman Chuy García (@RepChuyGarcia) June 17, 2025
Rep. Jim McGovern, Democrat from Massachusetts:
It’s unconstitutional for any president to go to war without a vote in Congress. Period, end of story.
I’m joining @RepThomasMassie on a bipartisan resolution to prohibit an unauthorized war with Iran. https://t.co/CjjRjx5wAt
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) June 17, 2025
Whatever happens with this resolution could happen soon.
Khanna and Massie plan to introduce the measure as a privileged resolution, which would force a full House vote in a matter of days. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who is closely aligned with Trump, may have the option of revoking the privilege because it is a war powers resolution. Johnson’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution.
Of course the bottom line here is that President Trump doesn’t need the approval of the Squad or any other Democrats to launch an airstrike (or several) aimed at Iran. If it came to putting US troops on the ground that would be a different matter, but it’s very unlikely Trump would ever consider that.
Still, it will be interesting to see if Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, MTG and other opponents of US involvement on the right promote this, essentially lining themselves up with AOC and the Squad in this unique case. Is this more proof for horseshoe theory?
