GOP Sen. Warns Trump Needs Congress’ Approval For Preemptive Strike On NK

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan, center, greets supporters on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in Anchorage Alaska. Sullivan is challenging U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska. At left is Sullivan's w... Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan, center, greets supporters on election night, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in Anchorage Alaska. Sullivan is challenging U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska. At left is Sullivan's wife Julie Sullivan, and at right is his daughter Meghan. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) MORE LESS

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) on Tuesday evening warned that President Donald Trump would need approval from Congress if he wanted to preemptively go to war against North Korea.

“If one of the military options that the administration is looking at is a preemptive war on the Korean peninsula launched by the United States, that would require the authorization of Congress,” Sullivan said on Fox News. “Article I of the U.S. Constitution is very clear about that.”

But he noted that if North Korea acted against the U.S. first, Trump would not need Congress’ go-ahead to hit back.

“Obviously, as the commander in chief, the President can react to attacks on the country in a way that he has broader authority on that. I was mentioning the discussions of a preemptive war on the peninsula, that clearly goes in the realm of the authorization of Congress,” he said.

Sullivan’s comments on Fox News followed remarks Trump gave Tuesday afternoon at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, warning North Korea against using a nuclear weapon.

“They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen,” Trump said. “He has been very threatening, beyond a normal state, and as I said they will be met with fire and fury and, frankly, power the likes of which this world has never seen before.”

The President followed up on Wednesday by touting the United States’ nuclear arsenal in a series of tweets.

23
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. A nice oblique response to the Gorka nonsense.

  2. And what if he doesn’t seek approval? Thoughts and prayers to undo the attack?

  3. Yeah, like Trump cares what the Constitution says about that.

    Stop yapping and do what needs to be done.

  4. Trump is all bluster. The missiles can only reach Chicago. He hates Chicago, and he hates California even more. He’ll only be real when they can reach Palm Beach or Bedminster NJ.
    In the meantime, let’s all remember the schtick Trump did with the CNN sign in a WWE fake wrestling episode. That’s what’s going on. Oh, and Manafort is about to get flipped.

  5. I’m sure he’ll take that well.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

17 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for ottis Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for scottsa Avatar for jimtoday Avatar for carlosfiance Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for johnrm Avatar for blugrass Avatar for bboerner Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for anon216902 Avatar for wagonmound Avatar for docd Avatar for professorpoopypants Avatar for bankerpup Avatar for boisdevache Avatar for coimmigrant Avatar for dannydorko Avatar for coprophagoussmile Avatar for bluefalcon Avatar for edgewise

Continue Discussion