Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Urging Senate Republicans To Stand Against Trump’s War Of Choice In Iran By Voting For Senate Democrat’s War Powers Resolution

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the Senate floor slamming President Trump's 'Operation Epic Failure,' and urging Senate Republicans to listen to Americans and take a stand by voting for Senate Democrats' War Powers Resolution. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Just days ago, Donald Trump declared his war in Iran a "total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it." Again, Donald Trump saying about his war, "total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it." But for the American people-for our troops, for our allies, for our economy-there is nothing but questions about it. In fact, for a majority of Americans, it's a total disaster. In just about every way, things are worse today than they were before trump started his war of choice.

The Strait of Hormuz? Worse-closed and unstable. The Iranian regime? Worse-more entrenched, more radical. Gas prices? Worse-over four dollars a gallon. Iran's nuclear ambitions? Still intact. And America's standing in the world? Worse. As the Europeans, and our Middle Eastern allies, and so many others are very exacerbated with Donald Trump and this country right now.

So, Strait of Hormuz, worse. Iranian regime change, worse. Gas prices, worse. Iran's nuclear ambition, worse. American credibility, worse. Everything, everything has been made worse by Donald Trump's war of choice.

Donald Trump promised "total and complete victory." Instead, he has delivered total and complete chaos. That's not victory. That's failure. Donald Trump hasn't even clearly articulated what victory would look like-let alone achieve it. Instead, he has lurched from one reckless idea to the next, with no strategy, no endgame, and no coalition of allies. And the consequences, unfortunately, are piling up.

Russia's oil revenues are surging-buoyed by Donald Trump's decision to ease pressure and destabilize global markets. An adversary that is fueling war in Ukraine is now benefiting from this chaos. And at home, Americans are paying the price. Inflation is rising again, driven in part by a spike in energy costs, so Americans are paying the price there. Mortgage rates are climbing. Consumer confidence has hit record lows. Donald Trump is leading our troops into a literal minefield abroad-and leading American families into an economic minefield here at home.

So, let's call Trump's Iran policy what it is: not Operation Epic Fury. Operation Epic Failure. Operation Epic Failure is a much more appropriate name for Trump's war of choice. And forty-five days into this war-Congress has been sidelined because Republicans have refused to take a strong stance against this war and buck it because they're afraid of Trump. No hearings. No oversight. No serious oversight. No accountability. Not one.

So I say to my Republican friends, this is not how a democracy conducts war. That is not what the Constitution allows. So if Republicans refuse to do their job, Senate Democrats will force the issue.

Under the War Powers Act, we will bring a resolution to the floor this week led by Senator Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran who understands the true cost of war in a way Donald Trump never will. And we will not stop there. If Republicans block it, we will vote again. And again. And again. Every single week until Operation Epic Failure ends-or Congress does its job and authorizes it, which I know it won't, given how bad this war is. Because our troops deserve a mission, not a mess. They deserve a strategy, not chaos. And they deserve leaders who understand that sending Americans into harm's way is the most serious decision a nation can make.

Our Republican colleagues face a simple choice: stand with Americans-or stand with Donald Trump's failed war. Stand with our troops-or keep them in harm's way without a plan. Stand with the American people-or keep asking them to pay more for gas, more for groceries, and more for a war that has made everything worse.

We will keep forcing that choice. We will keep forcing that choice, my Republican colleagues. You won't be able to keep ducking it.

I would like to thank Senator Kaine for his tremendous leadership on this issue. I would like to thank Senator Booker and the members of our caucus for working with me to make sure we have those votes week after week, unrelenting, until Republicans are ready to stand up and listen to the pleas of Americans and do their job.

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