Where the 2020 Democrats Stand on War With Iran

Alex Nitzberg / Townhall Tipsheet

Iran shot down a U.S. drone on Thursday. On Friday morning President Trump tweeted that while he had nearly executed a retaliatory strike against Iran, he ultimately decided to call it off because it would have resulted in 150 deaths which would not have been a proportional response to the Iranian attack against an unmanned aircraft.

....proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world. Sanctions are biting & more added last night. Iran can NEVER have Nuclear Weapons, not against the USA, and not against the WORLD!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have both warned that the U.S. should not become involved in a war with Iran.

Omar published a multi-tweet thread on Thursday, writing to President Trump: “So I urge you: be strong. Do not listen to the warmongers and war profiteers whispering in your ear. Do not send our men and women into harm's way.”

Sending teenagers to die, or return with lifelong wounds seen and unseen, does not make you a bigger person. It makes you smaller.

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 21, 2019

I have seen firsthand the effects of war. Even in the best of cases, it never has the outcome you expect.

War is death, displacement, and terror. War is hell.

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 21, 2019

She also shared screenshots of two tweets posted years ago by Trump. One of those messages said, “In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran.” Another read, “Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate.”

Wonder how his poll numbers are doing ?? pic.twitter.com/MUrRGdl9ZG

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 20, 2019

Sanders tweeted on Thursday that, “If you think the invasion of Iraq was a disaster, a war with Iran would be worse.”

If you think the invasion of Iraq was a disaster, a war with Iran would be worse. The United States must bring Iran and Saudi Arabia to the negotiating table, not foment a never-ending, unconstitutional war in the region. https://t.co/kirVfPZb7T

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 20, 2019

On Friday, Sen. Sanders tweeted that Congress should prevent the president from engaging in a war:

A war with Iran would be a disaster and lead to endless conflict in the region. Congress must assert its constitutional authority and stop Trump from going to war. https://t.co/9gMcxV9UOl

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 21, 2019

Democratic primary contender Pete Buttigieg recently said about President Trump, “The president of the United States has trouble making decisions and is relatively easy to manipulate.”

2020 Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg on tensions with Iran: “We are in an extremely dangerous moment. The president of the United States has trouble making decisions and is relatively easy to manipulate.” https://t.co/tpHHech10d pic.twitter.com/51elVDJaZm

— ABC News (@ABC) June 21, 2019