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“Trump Is No King. No Matter What You Think About Iran, Congress Has a Duty to Vote for War and Debate the Serious Value of It,” Mark Ruffalo Says in Response to Rep. Ro Khanna Promising to “Make a Motion to Discharge to Force a Vote on It Next Week — Congress Must Do Its Job and Stop This March to War”

Zane Clark
“Trump Is No King. No Matter What You Think About Iran, Congress Has a Duty to Vote for War and Debate the Serious Value of It,” Mark Ruffalo Says in Response to Rep. Ro Khanna Promising to “Make a Motion to Discharge to Force a Vote on It Next Week — Congress Must Do Its Job and Stop This March to War”

Actor and political activist Mark Ruffalo criticized the possibility of U.S. military action against Iran, arguing that Congress — not the president — must decide whether the country goes to war. His comments came as lawmakers warned that the Trump administration may be moving closer to military strikes and as a bipartisan group in Congress seeks to force a formal vote.

“Trump is no king. No matter what you think about Iran, Congress has a duty to vote for war and debate the serious value of it,” Ruffalo wrote on social media. “Make no mistake. It will be a war. Do we want another war going on in a region that has been torn by war and strife?”

Ruffalo cited past U.S. conflicts including Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, describing them as “bloody” and “amoral disasters,” and accused defense contractors of benefiting from prolonged warfare. His remarks were made in response to a post by Rep. Ro Khanna, who said Trump administration officials believe there is a “90% chance” of strikes on Iran if negotiations fail.

Khanna said he and Rep. Thomas Massie are working to force a House vote on a War Powers Resolution aimed at blocking unauthorized military action against Iran. “He can’t [strike Iran] without Congress,” Khanna wrote. “I will make a motion to discharge to force a vote on it next week.”

The measure, House Concurrent Resolution 38, directs the president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress authorizes military action through a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force. It cites Article I of the Constitution, which grants Congress the sole power to declare war, and the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which limits unilateral presidential military action.

The resolution allows for defensive action in the case of an imminent attack but states that it does not authorize the use of force and does not restrict intelligence or counterterrorism activities related to Iran.

Ruffalo’s post drew pushback from some users online, who accused him of overlooking Iran’s human rights abuses and argued that limited strikes would not constitute a full-scale war. Others defended his position, saying the decision to use force should be debated openly by lawmakers.

The debate comes amid reports that the Trump administration has significantly expanded its military presence in the Middle East while pursuing nuclear negotiations with Tehran. According to Axios, the buildup includes two aircraft carriers, dozens of warships, hundreds of fighter jets and expanded air defense systems, as well as large-scale weapons transfers to the region. U.S. officials have said talks with Iran have made limited progress, and advisers have suggested diplomacy could soon reach its “natural end.”

While the administration has not announced any decision to launch strikes, critics in Congress say the scale of the deployment risks pulling the United States into another major conflict without explicit authorization.

Ruffalo has previously used high-profile appearances to criticize Trump’s domestic and foreign policies, including remarks earlier this year at the Golden Globe Awards in which he condemned what he described as escalating global tensions under the administration.

The White House has said it prefers a negotiated outcome with Iran but has also warned that military options remain on the table if talks collapse. Lawmakers backing the War Powers resolution say their goal is to ensure that any decision to go to war is debated and approved by Congress before U.S. troops are placed in harm’s way.

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Zane Clark

Zane Clark is a writer whose interest in national affairs began at age 11, during a birthday ride in a 1966 Piper 180C that sparked an early curiosity about history and current events. That first moment of perspective grew into a lasting fascination with the people, conflicts, and decisions influencing the nation’s direction. Today, Zane brings clear, informed storytelling to Altitude Post, covering everything from major events to the individuals helping shape the country’s future. When he’s not writing, he’s researching history, following current developments, spotting aircraft, attending airshows or exploring the stories behind the headlines.

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