U.S. President Joe Biden came under fire from progressive Democrats after he unilaterally launched multiple airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen without seeking congressional approval. Many nations and groups view the Houthis as a terrorist movement that receives backing from the Iranian government.
Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington, DC, criticized President Biden’s “unacceptable” decision to announce airstrikes against the Houthis by the United States and Britain in response to their attacks on ships in the Red Sea. On Twitter, Jayapal—who also serves as leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus—shared a story from the New York Times that panned the president’s choice. Furthermore, she asserted that President Biden was in direct defiance of Article 1 of the US Constitution, which mandates that the House of Representatives must provide authorization for any military action.
Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) joined the chorus of Democrats who criticized the party boss, arguing that the leader’s order to launch the strikes violated the Constitution. According to Khanna, President Biden did not seek congressional authorization for the bombings, even if he did consult a “international coalition” in planning them. He went on to say that the president’s policies could lead to another American involvement in a Middle Eastern conflict with unknown outcomes.
Democratic lawmakers Val Hoyle of Oregon and Cori Bush of Montana both tweeted that President Biden’s actions violated the Constitution. Bush went so far as to call the attacks “illegal” and say that Americans did not want their tax dollars to go toward pointless conflicts that would eventually result in the “killing of civilians.”
Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, was another “Squad” member who harshly condemned President Biden over the airstrikes. She tweeted that the president was disrespecting the division of powers and that his choice to bypass Congress was unjustifiable. Since most Americans do not want their nation to become engaged in future wars, Tlaib expressed concern that his actions may impact his popularity.
