• Reaction among Michigan’s congressional delegation fell along mostly partisan lines to President Trump’s decision to attack nuclear sites in Iran
  • Republicans back Trump, saying the attack won’t prompt the sort of prolonged war the president has pledged to avoid
  • Democrats are more muted, as some question the constitutionality of the attack

Reactions among Michigan’s congressional delegation fell along party lines to the US’ intervention in Israel’s war with Iran this weekend, as Republicans offered praise for President Trump and some Democrats questioned its constitutionality.

US warplanes attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday, a dramatic escalation of the Mideast conflict.

Additional US planes and warships moved into the region, and Trump told the nation on Saturday that Iran “must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”

Michigan is home to about 5,300 people of Iranian descent and 129,000 Jews. Separately, the state also has 212,000 Arab-Americans.

On social media, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said she has met with National Guard and Michigan State Police and is “monitoring the situation in Iran closely and taking steps to keep Michiganders safe.”

Campaigning for a second term as president, Trump promised to avoid overseas entanglements and wars.

“This was not a knee-jerk response, and knowing President Trump, he has no interest in dragging America into another endless war,” Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, posted on social media.

“The Iranian people are at a pivotal moment — with an opportunity to push back against a brutal regime and demand the basic human rights and freedoms they’ve been denied for too long.”

US Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, condemned the attack, while fellow Democratic Reps. Debbie Dingell questioned whether Trump had power to authorize the strikes without congressional approval.

Writing on social media, US Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, said “this is exactly why our founders built a role for Congress on issues of war and peace — to ensure questions of real consequence are answered before American men and women are engaged in war.”

Here’s a sample of the responses from both sides of the aisle.

Senate Democrats

House Republicans

House Democrats

As of 5 p.m. Sunday, US Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet had not publicly commented on the situation.

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