Washington — President Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran, saying he would eradicate a “whole civilization” if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, then later announced a temporary ceasefire — and most congressional Republicans responded only sparingly.
Mr. Trump set an 8 p.m. Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the vital oil shipping route and warned of attacks on civilian infrastructure if the strait remained closed. Roughly 12 hours before that deadline, and about 11 hours before he announced the ceasefire, he posted on Truth Social: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
Only a few Republicans in Congress publicly criticized the statement. Rep. Nathaniel Moran of Texas was among the first to voice concern, saying he does not support the destruction of a “whole civilization” and stressing the need to protect innocent lives even while confronting adversaries. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said the threat “cannot be excused away as an attempt to gain leverage in negotiations with Iran” and urged all parties to de-escalate. Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, who recently changed his affiliation from Republican to independent, also warned against employing such rhetoric as a negotiation tactic.
The relatively limited Republican pushback stood in stark contrast to a broad Democratic outcry demanding action to remove Mr. Trump from power. By Tuesday afternoon, more than 70 Democrats in the House and Senate had publicly called for invocation of the 25th Amendment or for impeachment proceedings. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged the Cabinet to act or for congressional Republicans to reconvene and end the crisis, calling Mr. Trump’s instability “clear and dangerous.”
Connecticut Rep. John Larson filed articles of impeachment on Tuesday, though such an effort faces long odds while Republicans control the House.
Outside Congress, some conservative figures who had previously supported the president also condemned the threats. Coverage identified several commentators and public figures among those calling for Mr. Trump’s removal.
Less than two hours before the 8 p.m. deadline, Mr. Trump announced a ceasefire, saying it would hold if Iran agreed to the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” effectively postponing the threatened large-scale attack. The lull left unanswered questions about enforcement, oversight and the longer-term diplomatic and security consequences of the episode.