Local leaders react to President Trump’s threats against Iran
Caleb Nguyen
WASHINGTON D.C. (KEYT) – Local political leaders reacted to President Donald Trump’s recent threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” regarding the United States’ ongoing conflict with Iran.
Salud Carbajal issued a statement to Your News Channel addressing the President’s recent comments:
The President’s comments are deranged, dangerous, and if carried out — illegal. I call on Republican leadership in Congress to stop being bystanders and take action to stop Trump. We cannot have an unstable man acting with zero guardrails or accountability.
Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24)
Declared candidate for California’s 24th District, Bob Smith, also commented on the President’s recent comments:
Today’s deadline highlights the seriousness of the situation with Iran. I have spent many years of my life operating in the Middle East and the Straight of Hormuz. Leadership consensus from both parties has always agreed that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon or continue advanced ballistic missile production.
For decades, Iran has targeted the United States and our allies both directly and through proxy forces. In just the past few years, we have seen sustained missile and drone attacks that have required repeated U.S. defensive responses, including the use of high-cost interceptor systems to protect our forces and partners.
When we are dealing with conflict at this scale, presidential language must be precise, disciplined, and grounded in strategy. Language that suggests large-scale destruction or civilian impact is serious. The United States should lead with our values, and always remember that many Iranian people are supporting the U.S. in stopping the brutal IRGC that has terrorized their lives for 47 years.
Americans are tired of endless foreign wars. I am as well, having spent much of my career serving in them. That also doesn’t imply that the President shouldn’t take immediate military action when deemed necessary. But any action we take must have a clear objective and a defined end state.
The priority now should be protecting American lives, deterring further aggression, reopening the Straight of Hormuz, and ensuring we have a clear path forward that avoids unnecessary escalation while maintaining our strength. We should also keep innocent civilians on all sides, and our men and women in uniform, in our thoughts and prayers.
That is exactly the kind of oversight I would bring to Congress, grounded in my senior military leadership and experience in the Middle East, ensuring we have a clear strategy, strong deterrence, and accountability to the American people.
Bob Smith
Jimmy Panetta, California’s 19th Congressional District representative, also added commentary on the President’s recent threats:
The President’s threat to wipe out a ‘whole civilization’ in Iran is not just dangerous, it reeks of desperation and depravity. But this is the very real danger of an individual like Donald Trump having free rein over a war, something our Founders knew could happen and tried to prevent with our Constitution.
That is why I call on Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately call back Congress into session so that we can properly debate a war powers resolution and exercise our Constitutional authority over the Iran War.
Unfortunately, Speaker Johnson has yet to stand up to this President and his Secretary of Defense who continue to impose the power of the U.S. military selfishly and capriciously without a coherent or consistent strategy.
The President’s war is not just a danger to the Iranian people, but also to our U.S. military men and women in uniform. As we continue our efforts to stand up to the President and stop his war of choice, we must always stand for America’s credibility and the sanctity of our democratic values.
Jimmy Panetta, California’s 19th Congressional District
Your News Channel will provide additional local leader comments if and when available.