“I do think that it would be dangerous for the Congress to once again cede this decision to Donald Trump, or, frankly, any president. This is something that Congress should weigh in on if the president is contemplating engaging the country in another war.”
View the full interview HERE.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown to discuss the ongoing attacks between Israel and Iran and President Donald Trump’s response to the conflict. Schiff reiterated America’s support for Israel and its right to defend itself, and he discussed the need for President Trump to seek congressional approval before deciding to engage Iran in direct conflict, emphasizing only Congress has the authority to declare war.
Key Excerpts:
On need for President Trump to seek congressional approval before directly engaging with Iran:
[…] Congress should insist on having a vote on this prior to a decision to engage in hostilities in that manner. Whether we will or not, is a very much an open question. We have over the last 10 or 20 years, really ceded our authority — our authority to declare war or to refuse to declare war under the Constitution. So, whether this Congress will say a word about it remains to be seen, but I do think congressional approval is both desirable and from a constitutional point of view, necessary.
[…]
I think for Congress, if they’re contemplating this, if the president makes the decision to go forward with this, then he should come to Congress and say he wants our authorization. If he wants to maintain some element of surprise, he should come and get that authorization saying that he is contemplating the possible use of it and wants to make sure that Congress and the American people are bought in on this decision. And given the potential for escalation, we need to be bought in on this decision.
On how Congress must not cede the authority of the power to declare war:
[…] I do think that it would be dangerous for the Congress to once again cede this decision to Donald Trump, or, frankly, any president. This is something that Congress should weigh in on if the President is contemplating engaging the country in another war.
[…]
I support Israel’s right to defend itself. I understand what Israel is doing, and I wish them Godspeed in protecting their country from this malign actor that is Iran and my thoughts and prayers to go out to the people of Israel that are at risk right now. But in terms of drawing the United States into a full-blown war with Iran, that is not something I am willing to cede to this president or any president.
On Israel’s right to defend itself:
[…] Israel made a decision that was in its national security interest, and I support that decision. October 7th, I think, changed a lot of Israel’s calculus, given that it was the victim of this horrendous surprise attack by Hamas. It can’t afford to allow Iran to get the bomb and have a surprise attack by a nuclear armed Iran. So, I support Israel’s actions, and I support whatever intelligence support and defensive support we can provide Israel.
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