Welcome to today’s episode. We’re examining why President Trump’s decision to kill Iran’s top general, Qasem Soleimani, is causing a rare rift in the Republican Party. On January 3rd, Mr. Trump hailed the strike as decisive, calling Soleimani “the number one terrorist in the world.” Hawkish senators like Lindsey Graham praised the move as “the right call at the right time,” while Marco Rubio insisted it showed the president “will defend American lives.” Yet others in the party are urging caution. Senator Mitt Romney warned that “we can’t drift into open-ended war without congressional debate,” and Rand Paul cautioned against a “slippery slope of endless conflict.” In fact, several Republicans have backed a resolution to rein in the president’s war powers, arguing that the Constitution grants Congress— not the White House—authority to declare war. As America considers its next steps in the Middle East, this divide highlights a party torn between loyalty to its leader and concerns over unchecked military action.
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