U.S. Representative Don Bacon said the president should take military action against Iran, arguing the United States made commitments to Iranians who opposed their government and failed to follow through, according to a statement he posted on social media.

“I’ll study the bill before committing on how I’ll vote. But, I do think the President must take military action,” Bacon wrote. “He promised the Iranians that we would support them if they stood up against the regime. The Iranians did and now an estimated 50,000 people have been executed. There cannot be empty promises.”

My statement on potential hostilities with Iran: pic.twitter.com/vVLfCp3IH0

— Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) February 19, 2026

Bacon’s remarks came as lawmakers from both parties debated congressional authority over potential U.S. strikes on Iran and amid reports of increased U.S. military deployments in the region.

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna said Trump administration officials had privately indicated there was a high likelihood of military action and warned that the president could not lawfully launch strikes without congressional approval.

“Trump officials say there’s a 90% chance of strikes on Iran. He can’t without Congress,” Khanna wrote in a separate post. He said he and Republican Representative Thomas Massie would force a House vote on a War Powers resolution to block unauthorized military action.

Trump officials say there's a 90% chance of strikes on Iran. He can’t without Congress. @RepThomasMassie & I have a War Powers Resolution to debate & vote on war before putting U.S. troops in harm’s way. I will make a motion to discharge to force a vote on it next week. https://t.co/FWQ245D6B8

— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 18, 2026

Khanna later said the administration was positioning aircraft carriers, warships and fighter jets in preparation for a possible conflict with Iran and warned that U.S. troops in the region could be targeted in retaliation.

“A war with Iran would be catastrophic,” Khanna wrote. “Iran is a complex society of 90 million people with significant air defenses and military capabilities. We also have 30–40,000 U.S. troops in the region who could be at risk of retaliation.”

Massie said the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the authority to initiate war.

“Congress must vote on war according to our Constitution,” Massie wrote. “I will vote to put America first which means voting against more war in the Middle East.”

Congress must vote on war according to our Constitution. @RepRoKhanna and I will be forcing that vote to happen in the House as soon as possible.

I will vote to put America first which means voting against more war in the Middle East. https://t.co/O0LcTDWNDS

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 19, 2026

In a separate post, Massie cited Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution and said there was no imminent threat from Iran that would justify unilateral action under the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

“There’s no imminent threat from Iran to invoke 1973 WPA,” Massie wrote.

Article I, section 8, clause 11

[The Congress shall have Power] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water

Which means, to initiate war requires Congress.

There’s no imminent threat from Iran to invoke 1973 WPA.

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 19, 2026

Massie and Khanna are sponsors of a bipartisan War Powers resolution, H.Con.Res. 38, directing the president to remove U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran unless Congress explicitly authorizes military action. The measure was introduced in the House in June by Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna and later gained dozens of co-sponsors from both parties.

The resolution states that Congress has not declared war or provided specific statutory authorization for hostilities involving U.S. Armed Forces against Iran and cites Congress’s authority under Article I of the Constitution to initiate war. It also says the directive should not be construed as authorizing the use of military force and allows U.S. forces to defend against an imminent attack.

Bacon did not specify what form of military action he believed was necessary, but said the United States had a responsibility to follow through on its commitments to Iranians who opposed their government.

“There cannot be empty promises,” Bacon wrote.