U.S. senators and representatives from Kansas and Missouri are, not surprisingly, splitting along party lines in their response to the military operation dubbed “Epic Fury” by President Donald Trump.
In statements and social media posts made before the news Saturday afternoon that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed by an Israeli strike, the elected officials ranged in their characterizations of the attacks from “decisive” to unnecessarily “putting American lives at risk.”
Republicans largely endorsed the attacks as a necessary next step in Trump's promise to keep Iran from developing its nuclear program. Democrats claimed the move violates the article of the Constitution that requires congressional approval to carry out military action.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, one of two Democrats among Missouri's congressional delegation, recognized Iran as a “bad actor, repressive to their people and a threat to U.S. personnel and allies." He called on Congress to challenge the administration’s unilateral use of military force without congressional approval.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, who last year joined conservative Republicans warning against war with Iran, earlier this week told St. Louis Public Radio he supported Trump’s efforts to keep nuclear weapons out of Iran. Hawley has long been an ardent supporter of Israel.
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, of Kansas, in a Saturday morning post on X did not mention the strikes in Iran, but instead said: "May God Bless and keep safe the Armed Forces of the United States Military. The greatest military in the world."
Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, of Missouri's 4th District, in a video posted on X said the president acted “decisively,” and that while it wasn’t America who started the fight, “we will finish it with strength.”
Operation Epic Fury: After years of warnings and failed diplomacy, @POTUS acted decisively against Iran’s radical regime. America didn’t start this fight — but we will finish it with strength.
— Rep. Mark Alford (@RepMarkAlford) February 28, 2026
Join me in praying for our brave service members in harm’s way. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/jbqbcDHBaR
Rep. Sam Graves, a Republican from Missouri's 6th District, celebrated the reported death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenai. "No longer will he chant 'Death to America.'" He said the attack will protect American service members and our homeland.
Justice has been served. Khamenei is dead.
— Rep. Sam Graves (@RepSamGraves) February 28, 2026
His reign of terror is over. No longer will he chant "Death to America."
Now it is time for the people of Iran to take back their country.
Rep. Derek Schmidt, a Republican from Kansas, posted Saturday morning one short line: “Pray for the men and women serving in the United States Armed forces.”
In the early Saturday morning video in which he announced the military action, Trump said there might well be American casualties in service of the mission. As of Monday morning, at least four service members have been killed by Iran's attacks responding to the strikes.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat from Kansas, said in a statement she is committed to keeping Iran from developing a nuclear program. "That said, costly, endless wars without congressional authorization are not the answer. We cannot repeat the mistakes of our past, and I am extremely concerned about what this attack could drag us into. I am especially thinking of our servicemembers and hoping for their safety."
In his newsletter this week, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Ks) walked a thin line between acknowledging the administration may have acted prematurely with it's airstrikes on Iran, violating the U.S. Constitution, and endorsing the administration's military attacks.
"Our Constitution vests the decision to take our nation to war in Congress. When American forces are engaged or may be further committed, the administration should provide full, timely briefings to Congress so that we can understand the objectives, risks and costs for continued or expanded military action."
