Truthout is a vital news source and a living history of political struggle. If you think our work is valuable, support us with a donation of any size.

US Rep. Ro Khanna on Saturday demanded swift action from Congress to stop the Trump administration’s unauthorized military assault on Iran, saying in a video posted to social media that “the American people are tired of regime change wars that cost us billions of dollars and risk our lives.”

“We don’t want to be at war with a country of 90 million people in the Middle East,” said Khanna (D-Calif.), calling on Congress to reconvene for a vote on Monday.

“Every member of Congress should go on record today on how they will vote on Thomas Massie and my War Powers resolution,” Khanna added, referring to the Kentucky Republican who is co-leading the measure.

If passed, the resolution would require the president “to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.”

The White House reportedly only notified some members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees after the US-Israeli military assault on Iran began. According to Reuters, an Israeli official said that “the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Washington, and that the launch date was decided weeks ago.”

US and Israel Launch Illegal War on Iran, Call for Regime Change

Watch Khanna’s remarks:

Trump has launched an illegal regime change war in Iran with American lives at risk. Congress must convene on Monday to vote on @RepThomasMassie & my WPR to stop this. Every member of Congress should go on record this weekend on how they will vote. pic.twitter.com/tlRi3Vz849— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 28, 2026

Trump has launched an illegal regime change war in Iran with American lives at risk. Congress must convene on Monday to vote on @RepThomasMassie & my WPR to stop this. Every member of Congress should go on record this weekend on how they will vote. pic.twitter.com/tlRi3Vz849

Days prior to the US-Israeli attack on Iran, the House Democratic leadership announced it would force a vote next week on the Khanna-Massie War Powers resolution following reports that top Democrats were slowwalking the measure behind closed doors.

Senate Democrats also said they planned to vote next week on a War Powers resolution led by Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia.

In a statement on Saturday, Kaine called the US attacks on Iran “illegal” and said that “every single senator needs to go on the record about this dangerous, unnecessary, and idiotic action.”

“Has President Trump learned nothing from decades of US meddling in Iran and forever wars in the Middle East? Is he too mentally incapacitated to realize that we had a diplomatic agreement with Iran that was keeping its nuclear program in check, until he ripped it up during his first term?” Kaine asked. “These strikes are a colossal mistake, and I pray they do not cost our sons and daughters in uniform and at embassies throughout the region their lives. The Senate should immediately return to session and vote on my War Powers resolution.”

The chances of a War Powers resolution getting through the Republican-controlled Congress are virtually nonexistent, even though the American public overwhelmingly opposes US military action against Iran. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) both issued statements applauding Trump for the unauthorized Saturday attacks.

Cavan Kharrazian, senior policy adviser to the advocacy group Demand Progress, said that “Trump has no authority to launch another war on his own.”

“The Constitution is clear. The need for a War Powers resolution is clear. Congress decides when this country goes to war, not the president,” said Kharrazian. “Next week, every member of Congress will have to choose. Side with illegal, endless war, or side with the American people and reject yet another regime change war in the Middle East. Like with Iraq, the choice they make will echo loudly for years to come.”

A terrifying moment. We appeal for your support.

In the last weeks, we have witnessed an authoritarian assault on communities in Minnesota and across the nation.

The need for truthful, grassroots reporting is urgent at this cataclysmic historical moment. Yet, Trump-aligned billionaires and other allies have taken over many legacy media outlets — the culmination of a decades-long campaign to place control of the narrative into the hands of the political right.

We refuse to let Trump’s blatant propaganda machine go unchecked. Untethered to corporate ownership or advertisers, Truthout remains fearless in our reporting and our determination to use journalism as a tool for justice.

But we need your help just to fund our basic expenses. Over 80 percent of Truthout’s funding comes from small individual donations from our community of readers, and over a third of our total budget is supported by recurring monthly donors.

Truthout’s fundraiser ended last night, and we fell just short of our goal. But your support still matters immensely. Whether you can make a small monthly donation or a larger one-time gift, Truthout only works with your help.

Share via Facebook Facebook Circle Icon

Share via Bluesky Bluesky Circle Icon.cls-1{stroke-width:0px;}

Share via Flipboard Flipboard Circle Icon

Share via Mail Mail Circle Icon

More .st0{fill:none;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:0.5;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round;} Share via Threads .cls-1{stroke-width:0px;} Share via Reddit Reddit Cirlce Icon Share via Pocket Pocket Circle Icon Share via Linkedin LinkedIn Circle Icon.cls-1{stroke:#000;stroke-miterlimit:10;} Share via Twitter Twitter Circle Icon

Share via Threads .cls-1{stroke-width:0px;}

Share via Reddit Reddit Cirlce Icon

Share via Pocket Pocket Circle Icon

Share via Linkedin LinkedIn Circle Icon.cls-1{stroke:#000;stroke-miterlimit:10;}

Share via Twitter Twitter Circle Icon

Jake Johnson is a staff writer for Common Dreams. Follow him on Twitter: @johnsonjakep.

© Truthout