Efforts by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and some progressive Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump over his unauthorized strike on Iranian nuclear targets hit a dead end on Monday. The initiative lost momentum after Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) rejected the idea, calling it “dead on arrival.” Fetterman, who supported Trump’s decision, argued that impeachment in this instance lacked substance and risked undermining the seriousness of the process. The controversy began after Trump ordered a strike involving 14 “bunker buster” bombs on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites. Critics, including Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL), claimed the strike violated the Constitution by bypassing Congress. AOC labeled the move a “grave violation” of war powers and urged impeachment.
However, most Democrats were reluctant to pursue that course. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned Trump’s failure to seek congressional authorization but refrained from supporting impeachment. Republican leaders rallied behind Trump, with Vice President J.D. Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson asserting that the president acted within his constitutional authority to prevent an imminent threat. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) highlighted the inconsistency of Democratic critics, noting that past Democratic presidents engaged in similar military actions without facing impeachment calls. With bipartisan agreement that the strike was within executive powers, talk of impeachment quickly faded, as even Democrats like Fetterman cautioned against using the term loosely for political gain.
