Entrepreneur Andrew Yang, a Democratic presidential candidate, said President Trump’s decision to authorize an airstrike that killed a senior Iranian commander demonstrates why he shouldn’t be president.
“This decision highlights the need to get Donald Trump out of office. We need better decision-making in the White House that does not escalate violence but instead invests in diplomacy to achieve our national interests,” Yang tweeted on Friday after the death of Qasem Soleimani was reported.
This decision highlights the need to get Donald Trump out of office. We need better decision making in the White House that does not escalate violence but instead invests in diplomacy to achieve our national interests.
— Andrew Yang🧢 (@AndrewYang) January 3, 2020
“The priority now has to be protecting our embassies, bases and personnel in the region and hardening our defenses. We must ensure that Americans do not pay a terrible price for this attack,” he added.
As president, Yang vowed to push Congress to repeal the Authorization Use of Military Force, which was passed shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Congress also passed an AUMF for Operation Iraq Freedom in 2002.
“Our Constitution says that it is the power of Congress to declare war. I would repeal the AUMF and restore the historical balance between Congress and the Executive branch concerning military action,” Yang wrote on Twitter.
Other Democratic presidential candidates were also critical of Trump’s action.
Republicans such as Sen. Jim Risch (R-Id.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, applauded Trump’s decision to authorize the airstrike that killed Suleimani.
“Congratulations to President Trump on his decisive action and the successful outcome. Qassem Suleimani was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and his death presents an opportunity for Iraq to determine its own future free from Iranian control. As I have previously warned the Iranian government, they should not mistake our reasonable restraint in response to their previous attacks as weakness. The U.S. will always vigorously defend our interests and allies in the face of terrorist conduct and provocations,” Risch said in a statement.
“On behalf of every American serviceman and servicewoman who has either been killed or injured due to an Iranian-provided IED or rocket in Iraq over the years, today justice was done. Suleimani was responsible for the weapons program that caused those casualties and injuries with the use of those treacherous and cowardly devices,” he added.
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