'A nationally-televised Truth Social post' Sen. Tammy Duckworth slams Trump's address on Iran War

Democrats criticized President Donald Trump's Iran war address to the nation on Wednesday, accusing him of shifting the timelines and lacking an end plan for the conflict. Several lawmakers pointed out that Trump failed to share any concrete details of his 'Operation Epic Fury' with Sen. Tammy Duckworth, calling the nearly 20-minute speech a "nationally televised Truth Social post". She claimed the address lacked substance and direction at a crucial time when Americans are facing skyrocketing gas prices due to the war. 

Speaking from the White House, President Trump restated his case for the U.S. war against Iran, touting the successes of the U.S. military in the Middle East. While he claimed that the war's "core strategic objectives are nearing completion," he added that the U.S. will hit Tehran hard for the next two to three weeks, while diplomatic discussions are also on the table.  Democrats resoundingly rejected the notion, accusing Trump of dragging the country into a war that Americans didn't want. "Trump can say we’re winning a war no one asked for—and that gas prices aren’t skyrocketing. But we all know the truth," Sen. Duckworth wrote in her X post. She further urged the Senate to "rein in" the president as a part of its constitutional duty.

Other Democrats also shared scathing remarks, accusing Trump of failing to provide adequate information on the war. "Trump offered no new information to the American people and once again failed to give the public a clear rationale for his war, while he forces them to foot the bill to the tune of billions of dollars and causes their gas prices to skyrocket, " Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin wrote in his statement. Speaking on the rising gas prices, Trump said the spikes were temporary and that the U.S. has never been better prepared to face the economic challenges of the war. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the address a "rambling, disjointed, and pathetic presidential war speech," claiming that the military operation "will be considered one of the greatest policy blunders in the history of our nation."

Another Democratic lawmaker, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, noted that no plan was mentioned to secure Iran's nuclear materials in the address, and its ballistic missile capabilities remain a threat. "We are told there is a new regime in Iran, but there is no evidence it is any better – and in many ways it may be worse. There is still no clear plan to secure Iran’s nuclear material, its ballistic missile capabilities remain a threat, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed," he wrote in his X post.   He further urged the Congress to demand answers and be "prepared to act, citing that thirteen American service members have already lost their lives in the war, and the country owes them accountability.

While Democrats slammed Trump, Republicans praised the president and his address. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana claimed the president "laid out an incredibly compelling case to the nation" for the war and that it was necessary to prevent Iran's regime from getting a nuclear weapon.  "Thanks to President Trump's leadership and our brave men and women in uniform, America and the world are safer today with the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran removed," he wrote on X.