President Trump said three sites were hit in Iran.
HOUSTON — The U.S. took military action in Iran early Sunday, hitting three different locations to try to stop the country’s nuclear capabilities. The president spoke from the White House just hours after posting about the attacks on social media. He called the attacks a “spectacular military success.” In his address, he also warned Tehran against any retaliatory attacks.
Shortly after news of the attacks broke, elected officials from around Texas started posting their reactions. We’re compiling those on this page.
Texas Gov. Greg Greg Abbott (R)
“I stand with Donald Trump and the United States of America.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R)
“I’m proud to stand with President Trump as he takes action to protect our country and ensure the murderous Iranian regime never obtains a nuclear weapon. Incredibly grateful for President Trump and the brave men and women in our military defending our great nation.”
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D)
“Donald Trump once again shows that he is a man of his last word. With his unconstitutional action entangling us in conflict, he has made American families less safe. While bombing Iran’s nuclear sites may slow nuclear development, it intensifies anti-American hatred and calls for deadly retaliation, encourages more Iranians to rally around their repressive regime, and increases Iranian eagerness to go nuclear as protection from future attacks. The fall of Saddam Hussein’s statue in Baghdad was the beginning, not the end of chaos in Iraq that led to 4,000 American deaths and cost $2 trillion. The same could happen here.”
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R)
“President Trump made the courageous and correct decision to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat. God Bless the USA. Thank you to our extraordinary military and our indomitable @POTUS This is what leadership on the world stage looks like.”
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R)
“I commend our pilots and servicemembers, our intelligence personnel, President Trump, and his national security staff on tonight’s successful and critical operation.
“The prospect of the Iranian regime acquiring nuclear weapons represents the most acute immediate threat to America and our allies. When the Ayatollah chants ‘Death to America,’ he means it, and the reason he is building nuclear weapons is because he intends to use them. President Trump has consistently and unequivocally stated that those threats cannot be countered without dismantling the Iranian regime’s enrichment capacity. The President and his negotiators spent two months exploring whether the regime would agree to a negotiated settlement that met America’s national security needs. At the end of that period, Iranian regime officials declared that instead of agreeing to a deal they would open a new enrichment facility and install more advanced centrifuges.
“After that declaration, our Israeli allies launched a preemptive attack against the regime and its nuclear infrastructure, which was enormously successful but could not disable the nuclear activities at Fordow, an underground enrichment bunker built into a mountain which was legitimized by the catastrophic Obama-Iran nuclear deal. As long as Iran was able to access and conduct activities at Fordow, they could still rush to build a nuclear arsenal. Tonight’s actions have gone far in foreclosing that possibility, and countering the apocalyptic threat posed by an Iranian nuclear arsenal.”
U.S. Rep Greg Caser (D)
“It is illegal for Donald Trump to drag America into another endless foreign war. Congress should immediately pass a War Powers Resolution to block Trump from carrying out an unconstitutional war. My entire adult life, politicians have promised that new wars in the Middle East would be quick and easy. Then they sent other people’s children to fight and die endlessly. Enough.”
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R)
“President @realDonaldTrump has shown the strength and resolve of the United States on the world stage. Our military executed a precise and successful mission targeting key nuclear sites in Iran — a powerful message that we will never tolerate aggression or terrorism. Texas must stand firmly behind our Commander-in-Chief, our troops, and the mission to protect American and innocent lives and defend freedom around the world. Our gratitude and prayers to our tremendous military. Peace is earned when strength is unquestioned.”
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R)
“@realDonaldTrump just saved America and the world from fanatical terrorists in Iran who said they would destroy America and Israel. I have never been more proud of my President. President Trump is a man of peace, but when faced with no other option, he will take the bold action needed to protect our country. When he takes action, he allows our GREAT military to achieve ultimate and total victory over our enemies. All of America should salute our president and our military on a magnificent plan, and the spectacular execution of it, to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program. Thank you Mr. President for your bold leadership.”
We will add more reaction as we get it.