Dems sidestep past ‘refuse illegal orders’ demands as they challenge Trump’s Iran war authority
Amid ongoing hostilities with Iran, Democrats brushed off past calls from some figures in their party for U.S. armed forces to “refuse illegal orders,” even as they broadly maintained that President Donald Trump’s use of the military is on shaky footing without lawmaker approval. “The troops are in no way to blame for this illegal war. Responsibility lies solely and simply with the president,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said. “We support the troops always. They’re following orders,” Rep. Daren Soto, D-Fla., said. “This is about a debate of whether we should be there or not.” The comments come just months after six members of Congress with military backgrounds urged service members to disregard unconstitutional directives. GOP BLOCKS BOOKER-LED PUSH TO CURB TRUMP’S MILITARY AUTHORITY IN IRAN “You must refuse illegal orders,” Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., said. “Don’t give up the ship.” The six lawmakers included: Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. The lawmakers did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment when asked about what those calls meant in the context of the conflict with Iran. ONE MONTH AT WAR WITH IRAN — CAN WASHINGTON DEFINE VICTORY? Efforts to pass a war powers resolution that would curb Trump’s military powers in Iran have failed amid a steep partisan divide over whether the president’s actions fall within what the Constitution permits without congressional approval. A war power resolution that would have forced Trump to remove U.S. forces from Iran failed in the House of Representatives in a 213-214 vote on Thursday. Democrats, citing the War Powers Act of 1973, note that the law requires a president to secure approval from lawmakers before engaging in a conflict that goes past 60 days. FETTERMAN BREAKS WITH DEMOCRATS, SAYS TRUMP’S MILITARY STRIKES ON IRAN HAVE ‘MADE THE WORLD SAFER’ “The president says it’s an ‘excursion’ which it’s not,” Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., said. “We have to call it for what it is. It is a war.” Republicans and other advocates for the conflict have noted the war with Iran hasn’t hit that mark yet. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., joined Republicans in rebuffing challenges to the president’s authority. DEMOCRATS THREATEN TO GRIND SENATE TO A HALT TO FORCE PUBLIC IRAN HEARINGS “I’ve been the only Democrat who has supported Epic Fury,” Fetterman said, referring to the Iran conflict’s operational name. “And now we’re 48 days into this. None of this has been illegal,” he added. Even so, Democrats have blasted the president for dragging the country into a conflict that they say is far from a meaningful resolution. Blumenthal called on the administration to provide lawmakers with more information about a possible timeline for resolution and more details about the conflict’s status. “One of the complaints — and it’s bipartisan — we don’t have any accurate information about how the blockade is going, what the costs of the war are, even in a classified setting,” Blumenthal said. Although Trump has said U.S. and Iran talks are working towards ending the conflict for good, it remains unclear if ceasefire talks will render a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Iran could use detained Americans as ‘sweetener’ in nuclear talks, ex-hostage envoy warns
A former lead hostage negotiator under the first Trump and Biden administrations warned that the Iranians are tougher negotiators than the Russians, Chinese and even the Taliban, noting that several Americans are still wrongfully detained in Iran and should be included in any peace talks. Roger Carstens, the U.S. former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, said in an interview with Fox News that six American citizens are being held captive in Iranian prisons — each of them previously held in Evin prison in Tehran, known for its harsh conditions. He said the Iranians will likely use the American hostages as a “sweetener” to ensure negotiations go in “the direction of Iran” as the United States seeks a nuclear deal and permanent ceasefire. “Strangely, the Russians, the Chinese, the Taliban, the Venezuelans, when you start getting into hostage discussions, they tell the truth, and they stick to what they promise. You can do a handshake deal with the Taliban, and they’re going to follow through,” Carstens said. “The Iranians. Absolutely not.” While Carstens remains confident that U.S. negotiators can secure the return of the six Americans, he stated that Iran is unlike any other foreign government he’s worked with and can’t be trusted. MORNING GLORY: THE US-IRAN NEGOTIATIONS IN ISLAMABAD BECAME REYKJAVÍK 2.0 He said the Iranians are the sort of negotiators likely to pull a “fast one” right up until the last moment. “You cannot trust the Iranians up until the last second,” Carstens said. “If you were landing a plane in either Geneva or even Tehran, to get your Americans, you better be out there with a clipboard making sure that the people coming on the plane are the people that you bargained for.” Only two of the American hostages have been publicly identified: Kamran Hekmati, 61, and Reza Valizadeh, 49. Hekmati is a Jewish American who also holds Iranian citizenship. He was imprisoned 11 months ago after being charged and convicted of visiting Israel in the past 10 years. Like Hekmati, Valizadeh holds dual Iranian and American citizenship. He previously worked for the U.S.-funded Radio Farda, covering corruption and election manipulation in Iran. Valizadeh was arrested in September 2024 during a visit to see family and was sentenced after being convicted of working with a hostile government. SEN TIM SHEEHY: GOLD STAR FAMILIES DESERVE JUSTICE. THIS $15B FROM IRAN IS A START Carstens suggested it was unlikely there was any time for the Americans and Iranians to discuss the release of the six Americans during the 21-hour marathon peace talks in Pakistan earlier this month. MEET IRAN’S HARDLINE SPEAKER WHO THREATENED TO BURN US FORCES — REPORTEDLY TEHRAN’S POINT MAN FOR TALKS “I think the Iranians are going to be smart enough to keep these people healthy and ready to throw on to a negotiating table,” Carstens said. “The question in my mind during these negotiations is not whether they’ll be at risk or pulled off, but rather, what’s it going to take, and how will we, the United States, value them [the hostages]?” President Donald Trump does not mention the release of American hostages in his four objectives for ending the Iran war. Carstens is calling for the return of the hostages to be a fifth objective. “Let’s make this an official ask, and when we go in, not only ask for it officially, but hold ourselves accountable to getting the job done,” Carstens said. “The good news is Trump has a great record in bringing Americans home.” A senior White House official told Fox News Digital that future peace talks with Iran are under discussion, but nothing has yet been scheduled. “President Trump is always concerned about Americans detained abroad, which is why he has brought over 100 individuals — a record number — home from around the world,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for additional comment.
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