Efforts by “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and other Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump over his strike on Iran slammed into a wall on Monday, with one key Democrat senator declaring the scheme “dead on arrival.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who backed Trump’s bold move to strike Iranian nuclear targets on Sunday, shut down rumors that Democrats would push Republicans to launch new impeachment proceedings.
The far-fetched effort gained some momentum after Democrat leaders accused President Trump of violating the Constitution by starting a “war” without congressional approval.
“Of course, no [he should not be impeached],” Fetterman told Fox News.
“She knows it. I know it. We all know it… that is not going anywhere. He has been impeached twice, and now he is still our president as well too, so it is not going anywhere, and I do not think [bringing it up is] helpful.”
Fetterman’s comments followed AOC’s latest call for impeachment, what would be a historic third attempt, after 14 “bunker buster” bombs hit Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities early Sunday.
“The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,” the Bronx congresswoman posted online shortly after the strikes were revealed.
Fetterman also warned that throwing the word “impeachment” around so casually only cheapens its meaning.
“I think if you throw that term around, that actually diminishes the severity of what impeachment is really reserved for,” he said.
Far-left Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) echoed AOC, though he admitted there was little chance of success.
“I am not saying we have the votes to impeach,” Casten posted. “I am saying that you DO NOT do this without Congressional approval.”
More establishment Democrat leaders were far more cautious.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) blasted Trump, claiming the president “failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East.”
“Donald Trump shoulders complete and total responsibility for any adverse consequences that flow from his unilateral military action,” Jeffries added.
Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance strongly defended Trump’s decision, saying the president had full authority to act before Iran could retaliate against Israel or attack U.S. forces in the region.
“First of all, the president has clear authority to act to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” Vance told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “The idea that this was outside of presidential authority, I think any real serious legal person would tell you that is not true.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) also reminded critics of how many times Democrat presidents used military force without facing calls for impeachment.
“For my colleagues that are now demanding impeachment, it is absolutely absurd,” Lawler told “Fox & Friends.” “Barack Obama attacked Libya, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen during his tenure and never once did they call for impeachment. So, these folks are truly reaching new levels of Trump derangement in the aftermath of yesterday’s decision.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Sunday defended President Donald Trump’s use of the U.S. military to strike three suspected Iranian nuclear weapons facilities, saying that he didn’t need Congress’s approval to take the action.
“The President made the right call, and did what he needed to do. Leaders in Congress were aware of the urgency of this situation and the Commander-in-Chief evaluated that the imminent danger outweighed the time it would take for Congress to act,” Johnson wrote on the X platform.
“The world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, which chants ‘Death to America,’ simply could not be allowed the opportunity to obtain and use nuclear weapons. The President fully respects the Article I power of Congress, and tonight’s necessary, limited, and targeted strike follows the history and tradition of similar military actions under presidents of both parties,” he added.