Rep. Pat Ryan Criticizes Trump Over Iran War and Dover Demeanor
Key Takeaways
- •The House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution on Thursday aimed at limiting President Trump's authority to continue military action against Iran without congressional approval.
- •Representative Pat Ryan accused the Trump administration of lacking a coherent strategy and contributing to increasing American casualties in the Iran conflict.
- •Ryan criticized Trump's demeanor during a solemn dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for four fallen service members.
- •Ryan highlighted Trump's five military draft deferments while questioning his legitimacy to deploy U.S. troops into combat.
- •Ryan placed responsibility for military casualties on Defense Secretary Hegseth and Republican lawmakers who continue supporting the war.
Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), a military veteran, sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Thursday over the escalating war with Iran, calling the administration “an absolute clown car” and accusing it of lacking a coherent strategy.
Speaking to MeidasTouch, Ryan said the administration’s handling of the conflict had contributed to mounting American casualties. His comments came as House lawmakers voted Thursday to pass a war powers resolution rebuking Trump’s war, a congressional mechanism used to challenge or limit a president’s authority to continue military action without lawmakers’ approval.
Ryan also criticized Trump’s demeanor at Dover Air Force Base during a dignified transfer for four fallen service members. Such ceremonies mark the return of fallen U.S. service members to American soil and are typically treated as solemn military events. Referring to an image from the ceremony, Ryan said, “There’s a photo with every leader with their head down, bowed, and he’s just staring off into the abyss.”
“It’s just pathetic,” Ryan added.
Ryan pointed to Trump’s five military draft deferments while questioning his authority to send U.S. service members into combat.
“This is a guy that has never served a single day in uniform but is willing to send other people’s kids to fight in his wars while his own sons are profiting off all these defense companies’ stocks that they own,” Ryan said.
Ryan further argued that responsibility for the casualties extended beyond Trump to Defense Secretary Hegseth and Republican lawmakers who continue to support the war.
“I think increasingly, the blood of our fallen is certainly on Hegseth’s hands and Trump’s hands, and every Republican who continues this war and doesn’t stop it today — they’re accountable for that,” Ryan said.