Fetterman backs Trump's Iran strike, calls it 'entirely appropriate' response to long-term threat

John Fetterman told CNN that he supports Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran and stressed that the action didn't violate the War Powers Resolution
PUBLISHED MAR 2, 2026
On CNN's  'State of the Union', John Fetterman shared his take on Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran and discussed the War Powers Resolution (AP, Getty Images)
On CNN's 'State of the Union', John Fetterman shared his take on Donald Trump's decision to strike Iran and discussed the War Powers Resolution (AP, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Senator John Fetterman expressed his support on Sunday, March 1, for President Donald Trump’s decision to carry out military strikes on Iran. He said the action taken on Saturday was justified.

Many of his fellow Democratic Party members raised concerns about the situation. They questioned whether the attack could increase tensions and lead to further conflict. They also wanted to know what the next steps would be regarding Iran and its leadership.

The US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran early Saturday. Reports say the attack resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and about 40 other Iranian officials.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) speaks to reporters in the Senate Subway during a series of confirmation votes for U.S. President Donald Trump's cabinet nominees at the U.S. Capitol Building on February 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Senate voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and completed a procedural vote for the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Sen John Fetterman (D-PA) speaks to reporters in the Senate Subway during a series of confirmation votes for US President Donald Trump's cabinet nominees at the US Capitol Building on February 12, 2025, in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

John Fetterman says Trump’s Iran strike didn't violate War Powers Resolution

As per the Daily Caller, speaking on CNN’s 'State of the Union', John Fetterman said he supports the strikes because of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. He explained that while the threat was not happening right away, he still believes it needed attention.

“Imagine if people just listened to the conventional wisdom, that they could have possibly have acquired a bomb if we weren’t bombed back in June. So, yes, there is a threat. It’s not imminent that it could happen right now. But it’s one that I think is entirely appropriate to deal with it,” Fetterman told CNN host Dana Bash.

Fetterman also disagreed with claims that the strikes violated the War Powers Resolution. He told critics to "read the War Powers Act."

"And that’s why I support it. So, again, people keep describe that it was a legal war. Now read the War Powers Act. And, now, that has not been violated at this point what happened yesterday," the Pennsylvania politician asserted. 

People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 (AP Photo)
People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday, February 28, 2026 (AP Photo)

Before the strikes took place on Saturday, the Trump administration briefed the "Gang of Eight," a group made up of senior leaders from both political parties and the chairs of the intelligence committees.

The War Powers Resolution says that if soldiers enter a conflict, the president must notify Congress within 48 hours. The military action can continue for up to 60 days without approval from Congress. In some cases, an extra 30 days are allowed to safely bring the troops home.

John Fetterman says he 'absolutely supports the things' Trump has done

John Fetterman, who has strongly supported Donald Trump’s approach to Iran, also talked about how people have reacted politically.

He said he is frustrated with people posting online that Iran should never be allowed to get a nuclear weapon. “That’s why I’m proud to stand and agree with and say, yes, that’s the president from a different party, but I absolutely support the things that he’s done,” the senator declared. 

President Trump announced today that the United States and Israel had launched strikes on Iran targeting political and military leaders, as well as Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs. (Photo by Daniel Torok/White House via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, February 28, that the United States and Israel had launched strikes on Iran targeting political and military leaders, as well as Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs (Daniel Torok/White House via Getty Images)

This is not the first time Fetterman has taken this stand. He previously supported "Operation Midnight Hammer," the US strike on Iran’s nuclear sites. After that, he was the only Democratic senator to vote against a war powers resolution that aimed to limit the president’s authority following the operation. 

RELATED TOPICS US STRIKES IRAN

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