BALTIMORE — The United States and Israel launched major strikes against Iran on Saturday, with President Donald Trump announcing that “major combat operations” were underway and warning the Iranian regime it would face overwhelming force.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime," Trump said in a statement early Saturday morning.
RELATED: Trump announces 'major combat operations' in Iran, multiple casualties reported
Maryland leaders shared their perspectives on the attack.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore
“As Governor of the State of Maryland, I have a solemn duty to protect the safety and security of all Marylanders. I am closely monitoring the ongoing military operations in Iran and their implications both at home and abroad. Given Maryland’s unique role in our nation’s defense, with a significant concentration of active-duty service members, the Maryland National Guard, military installations, and defense facilities throughout our state, international military actions have a direct and profound impact on Maryland families and communities.
“I served in uniform in Afghanistan. I have seen who pays the price when Washington rushes into conflict without clear objectives, a defined strategy, and an honest explanation to the American people—it’s not the wealthy and well connected, but young, middle and working class Americans who are put in harm's way. We owe it to the men and women we are asking to execute on these orders to give a clear understanding of the mission—when we ask them to risk their lives, we need to be clear there is no other option.
“For decades the Iranian regime has been an agent of terror in the region and we have been able to reach bipartisan consensus to restrict nuclear capabilities and promote stability in the region. We can stand with the Iranian people who support the cause of democracy and freedom without risking another conflict that sends another generation of American troops into combat.
“I am in constant communication with public safety officials and senior military advisors to ensure we are taking every measure necessary to protect our state and its residents. We are closely coordinating with federal and local partners to monitor any potential threats to our homeland, with particular outreach to our places of worship, and will ensure the readiness of our emergency response capabilities.
“Dawn and I are praying for peace, and we thank our brave service members who stand watch in harm’s way.”
Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth
This morning, Americans woke up once again to news of the United States entering another undefined foreign conflict that put the lives of even more servicemembers at risk. The President himself admitted that American lives may be lost in this conflict. I’m thinking of our men and women in uniform who deserve clear answers and strategy, the American people who deserve assurance that we are not entering another forever war, and the Iranian people who deserve self-determination.
“There is no doubt that Iran’s human rights violations and nuclear ambitions must be confronted, but after the President boldly declared that Iran’s nuclear program was set back decades by a first set of strikes less than a year ago, we are once again attacking Iran without more clarity, legal justification, or consultation of Congress.
“Congress has the clear Constitutional authority to authorize strikes against enemies and declare war. Next week, the House of Representatives will take up a War Powers Resolution to end hostilities with Iran. I will be supporting this resolution, which is a critical opportunity for members of Congress – Democratic and Republican alike – to reassert our Constitutional authority.
“At the same time, American families back home are struggling to make ends meet, to keep up with rising costs from the checkout lines at grocery stores and pharmacies to rent, mortgage, and utility payments. Reckless conflicts abroad and ever-changing tariff policies do nothing to ease the economic pressures that our neighbors are facing. For the Maryland families I represent, I will utilize my role on the House Armed Services Committee to press for Congressional authority, transparency, and oppose rushing into an endless and unnecessary conflict in the Middle East.”
Former Congressman David Trone
"Let me be clear: Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, but this morning’s strikes raise grave concerns.I served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I know just how high the stakes are for the U.S. and our allies, including Israel. I’m grateful for our servicemembers’ courage and sacrifice, and in moments like these, they deserve leadership that is lawful, strategic, and focused on keeping them, and our country, safe.Launching broad military action that risks dragging the United States into another endless war—without authorization from Congress—disregards our Constitution and the American people’s voice in decisions of war.Donald Trump must answer to them."
Senator Angela Alsobrooks
“The President said he would end wars — not start them. He lied.
“The President said he obliterated the Iranian nuclear program. He lied.
“The American people have no reason to trust this man with the lives of our sons and daughters.
“The Constitution is clear: ‘The Congress shall have Power…To declare War.’ Senators who still believe in the Constitution should join me in demanding we return to Washington today and vote on Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution.
“Those who don’t will make it clear once and for all that they no longer recognize the authority of Congress to declare war. And history will record that when the Constitution was cast aside, they did not stand in its defense — they stood in its way.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen
“Trump is lying to the American people as he launches an illegal, regime-change war against Iran. This is endangering American lives and has already resulted in mass civilian casualties. This is not making us safer and only damages the U.S. and our interests. The Senate must immediately vote on the War Powers Resolution to stop it.”
Congressman Johnny Olszewski
“President Trump pledged to avoid wars. His actions today may instead begin one.
Iran is led by a brutal and oppressive regime that can never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon. Our commitment to peace and democracy in Iran as well as the freedom of its people is unwavering.
Military action can be justified, but President Trump has an obligation to make the argument for such action to the Congress and the American people. Instead, President Trump expects a blind trust he has not earned.
Once again, Trump has failed to make an argument for military strikes, or to identify an imminent threat from Iran. Once again, he has failed to explain the objective, the strategy, the risks, what comes next, and – most importantly – how this benefits America. As a result, there are American troops and civilians in harm’s way. I pray for their safety.
Americans who are being crushed by higher costs at home overwhelmingly oppose what could become another “forever war.” They have every right to demand a say before this Administration recklessly drags us into another costly, ill-defined conflict.
Our system requires checks and balances. Congress must act now to reclaim its constitutional power to authorize military force.”
Congresswoman April McClain Delany
"I have been very clear that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon – as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism it is in the security interests of the United States and our allies that Iran never possess the world’s most deadly and destructive technology.
"But under the Constitution, only Congress can declare war. Trump has not made his case to Congress or to the American people explaining why this action is justified and the consequences. Without that transparency and authorization - and considering Trump's consistent pattern of unlawful and reckless behavior - there is no reason to trust any decision Trump makes that could endanger American lives, including our brave service members carrying out this mission, without congressional approval. Congress must reassert our constitutional authority immediately."
Congressman Glenn Ivey
“I am deeply alarmed that President Trump has launched military strikes against Iran after telling the American people he would keep us out of another costly foreign war. You cannot campaign on ending “forever wars” and then turn around and move us closer to one without a clear strategy, clear authorization, and clear answers.
Let me be plain: Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, a driver of instability in the Middle East, and a regime that tramples the rights of its own people. No one is naïve about that. But strength is not the same thing as recklessness, and toughness does not mean bypassing Congress or sidelining diplomacy.
Folks back home are worried about grocery bills, rent, gas prices, and whether their kids can afford college, not about stumbling into another open-ended conflict thousands of miles away. They don’t want boots on the ground, and they also expect transparency and accountability from their government, especially when serious questions remain unresolved on other matters, like the Epstein files and the economy. The American people deserve straight talk, not sudden escalation.
We owe our service members more than slogans. We owe them a mission grounded in law, strategy, and a clear endgame, not a blank check that risks more American lives and billions of taxpayer dollars that could be put to work right here at home.”
Congressman Kweisi Mfume
"Once again President Trump has launched another missile attack on another nation without Congressional approval or involvement," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. "His repeated, illegal, and deadly actions continue to endanger our homeland by killing innocent civilians overseas and risking the lives of our service personnel. I call on Republicans in the Congress to stand with us and vote against this latest military action by this reckless and maniacal President."
Congressman Jamie Raskin
"The Framers provided in our Constitution that Congress must declare any war that our nation enters. They knew that Kings plunged their nations into wars of arrogance, deceit, distraction, plunder and intrigue without regard to the consequences for our soldiers, our people or anyone else. Our Framers insisted that the decision to put the lives of the people at risk be put in the hands of the representatives of the people who must carefully analyze and deliberate the staggering implications of going to war.
“Desperate to distract from the spectacular failure of his discredited and illegal tariffs, spiraling inflation in groceries and housing, the accelerating and shocking disclosures from the Epstein files and his collapsing poll numbers, the president who campaigned on keeping us out of regime-change ‘forever wars’ in the Middle East, like the savage Iraq and Afghanistan wars, just launched military strikes against Iran without any congressional declaration of war.
“The Iranian regime is, of course, a vicious theocratic tyranny like the brutal government in Saudi Arabia. The world must hold these antidemocratic and illiberal regimes accountable for their documented human rights violations against their own populations, their oppression of the rights of women and their malicious support for terrorism. We must also restore and reinvigorate the international instruments of nuclear nonproliferation and arms control that have been decimated by the Trump administration’s war on international law and the rules-based international order.
“To Speaker Johnson I say what every constitutional patriot in America is saying: bring the House back into session immediately so that we can vote on Reps. Thomas Massie (KY-04) and Ro Khanna’s (CA-17) bipartisan War Powers Resolution. Defenders of the Constitution on both sides of the aisle must come together to rein in the reckless and lawless actions of the would-be king. American lives and security depend on our Constitution being respected.”
