WASHINGTON — A handful of elected Republicans spoke out Tuesday against President Donald Trump’s threat of wholesale destruction against the Iranian people.
The token Republican pushback to Trump’s genocidal threat to destroy a “whole civilization” was less notable than the silence of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), but represented the first sign of dissent about the war spreading among elected Republicans in Washington beyond a handful of libertarian-leaning skeptics of American interventions abroad.
Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) spoke out first, posting on social media that while he considered Trump’s ongoing attacks lawful and appropriate, he was drawing the line at wiping out Iran’s civilization.
“I do not support the destruction of a ‘whole civilization.’ That is not who we are, and it is not consistent with the principles that have long guided America,” Moran said.
In his post on Tuesday morning, Trump suggested he would not only follow through on his threat to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure — things like bridges and power plants — but that he would utterly destroy the country unless it accommodates his demands. Never mind that Trump has previously pitched the war as an attempt to free the Iranian people from their oppressive government.
