Duckworth on Senate Floor Implores Republicans to Remember Their Oaths, Vote for Her War Powers Resolution to End Trump’s Disastrous War of Choice in Iran

April 15, 2026

Duckworth on Senate Floor Implores Republicans to Remember Their Oaths, Vote for Her War Powers Resolution to End Trump's Disastrous War of Choice in Iran

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees-led a group of her Senate Democratic colleagues on the Senate floor calling on Republicans to vote for her War Powers Resolution that would end Donald Trump's unnecessary, unjustified and illegal war against Iran that is costing American servicemember lives and driving up prices for millions of families across the country. Republicans once again blocked this measure, voting to continue enabling Trump's increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior as he prosecutes his unpopular war. Duckworth's full remarks are available on her YouTube, and key clips from her remarks can be downloaded from this linked folder.

Key Quotes:

• "From the moment this conflict began, the president has tried to shroud his incompetence behind the valor of our servicemembers. When asked to justify his actions, he's tried to hide his cowardice behind their courage. He's tried to act as if questioning why we're at war is the same as questioning the skill and bravery of our troops themselves. It isn't. Not at all."

• "I ran for Congress so that when the drums of war started beating, I'd be in a position to make sure that our elected officials fully considered the true costs of war-not just in terms of money, but in human lives as well. That was the vow I made to the troops I deployed with and all those who've served since I hung up my uniform. I'm here today, under this great Capital Dome, to keep that most sacred oath. Because right now, thousands of our troops are ready to do their jobs, even if it means laying down their lives. And it's tragic-it's disgusting-to me that even as they prepare do their jobs, our president and some members of this chamber seem so eager to neglect their own."

• "Trump knows where the Capitol Building is-it's the spot he told the insurrections to march toward on January 6. So if his team actually believes this war is justified, then they need to come to Congress and do their jobs… explaining their case and giving the American people a say through their elected representatives. They need to respect the American people enough to finally tell them why they're being forced to bear the costs of this conflict-both in dollars and cents, and daughters and sons."

Senator Duckworth's full remarks as delivered:

Thank you.

I've come to the floor today as a United States Senator, of course, but also as a former Soldier, who served in uniform the last time a president rashly sent our men and women into an unjustified war in the Middle East.

I spent nearly a year in Walter Reed recovering from the injuries I earned in Iraq. And every morning, as I struggled just to sit up straight.

Every time I was rolled into yet another surgery, I made sure to read the piece of paper I had next to my hospital bed. A framed copy of the Soldier's Creed-the words that those lucky enough to wear the Army uniform live by.

That same framed copy now hangs by my desk here in D.C.

And as I glanced at it this morning, I realized that there is perhaps no greater proof that Donald Trump never deigned to serve a day in his life than the mockery he makes of its commitments every single day.

The Creed may be associated with the Army, but the sentiment holds true for all those who wear the uniform. Its 13 lines tells us to be disciplined. Physically and mentally tough. Trained. Proficient. And to look out for those who look out for us.

Donald Trump is supposed to be our servicemembers' Commander-in-Chief. The very least we should expect of him is to epitomize the standard we ask our troops to live by.

The very least we should expect of him is to be as competent, disciplined and professional as the men and women whose very lives hinge on his capacity to lead on that competence and professionalism.

The Creed makes clear that our troops will never quit. That they will never leave a fallen comrade behind.

Yet Cadet Bone Spurs is someone who will always quit.

And every hour he orders our servicemembers to remain in unnecessary, growing danger, he is proving that he doesn't give a damn about leaving a comrade-so, so many comrades-behind.

Every moment that he leaves our heroes mired in the muck of this illegal war with Iran, he is showing that he cares more about saving face than saving lives.

So I come to the floor today with a simple question:

Our military men and women go out there every day and do their jobs, no matter the risk-all on Donald Trump's orders. So, Mister President, why the hell can't you do your job, too?

Look, I'm proud of every mission I completed in Iraq. But I would never wish another needless, endless, unjustified war like the one I served in on anybody else.

I wouldn't wish it on the heroes who are packing up their rucks right now, knowing they may never touch American soil again. I wouldn't wish it on their families, who are being forced to spend their days anxiously waiting for news from half-a-world-away.

And I wouldn't wish it on the American people, who want their president to focus on bringing their costs down here at home, not starting new, expensive taxpayer-funded wars continents away.

But Trump either doesn't understand or simply doesn't care about any of that.

From the moment this conflict began, the president has tried to shroud his incompetence behind the valor of our servicemembers. When asked to justify his actions, he's tried to hide his cowardice behind their courage. He's tried to act as if questioning why we're at war is the same as questioning the skill and bravery of our troops themselves.

It isn't. Not at all.

I know that our military will always do the best job possible. When given a mission, our servicemembers don't say, "Why me?" They don't ask, "But will I be safe?"

No.

Instead, they put on their uniform. They dust off their boots. They show up-and they do what's asked of them. Time after time, tour after tour. No matter the risk. No matter the sacrifice.

They will always, always execute their orders to the maximum capability of their professionalism. And they're proud to do it. That isn't the problem.

The problem is that the person who's supposed to be leading them spends more time talking about his Marie Antoinette ballroom than he does sitting in the Situation Room trying to get us out of this war.

The problem is that the guy who claims to be making America great again looks at the word America and only sees the letters "M-E."

The problem is that the Commander-in-Chief not only has no idea what the end-state looks like in his war of choice, but probably doesn't even know what the term "end-state" means at all.

The problem is that even in the last two weeks, the man in charge of the nuclear codes has gone increasingly nuclear.

Not believing literal war with Iran is enough, he's now gone to proverbial war with the Vatican. Choosing to pick fights with the Pope of all people rather than try to engage in any semblance of real diplomacy to end the conflict in the Middle East.

He threatened the annihilation of an entire civilization-terrifying people overseas and here at home, who are understandably worried about retaliatory strikes.

And now, after one half-assed day of so-called negotiations with Iran, he's whipsawed to the next risky frontier in the region: A dangerous, complex, partial military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz-Launching it at our nation's expense, with no justification, explanation or any real plan as to what comes next.

His only plan seems to rely on the valor, willingness to sacrifice and professionalism of our military men and women. That is not the action of a true commander.

But Trump is Trump-and is actively, unabashedly, telling us to ignore what we're seeing with our own eyes. He's trying to declare "mission accomplished" despite his obvious failures at every turn…

He's declaring "we did it, we're winning" after all signs point to the opposite. We're still at war, Americans are still at risk, civilians across the region are still dying for no reason anyone can articulate.

In reality, the only thing Donald Trump has accomplished over the last six weeks is more chaos.

Because of his choices, a new, younger Ayatollah is in charge, who seems even more radical than his father. 13 American heroes have been killed, with hundreds more wounded. More Gold Star parents are grieving their children. And more American families are struggling to afford the spiking gas prices…

Unsure if they can pay every time they go to the gas station-yet forced to, because they need to get to work… they need to take their kid to the third grade… they need to take their aging parent to the doctor.

War is always tragic. But when it's preventable, it's not just tragic, but a travesty, too.

Trump wouldn't let himself be dragged by the bone spurs to serve in Vietnam. So how dare he drag our nation into a war of choice today.

But this draft-dodger is too infatuated with maximum pressure to make a serious effort at even minimum diplomacy. Once again, the Trump Foreign Policy Doctrine has proven reckless, senseless and dangerous.

A doctrine in which fact and fiction are one and the same. One in which our Commander-in-Chief seems to come to military decisions by virtue of temper tantrum and announces them via tweet. And one in which avarice outweighs advice every damn time.

Look, unlike Trump, I actually know what it's like to leave your blood soaked into the desert sand of a warzone half-a-world away.

So I know what's at stake for the troops this Administration is sending into harm's way.

And I can tell you this: It's a whole lot easier to cover your eyes and order other Americans to sacrifice if you don't have to sacrifice anything for it yourself.

It's easier to send other peoples' children to fight in a war if you know yours are cozy in a penthouse suite somewhere. It's easier to ignore the everyday realities of war from inside the hallowed halls of the White House. But it's nearly impossible if you've been outside the wire yourself.

So I've come to the floor to keep true to a promise I first made two decades ago.

I ran for Congress so that when the drums of war started beating, I'd be in a position to make sure that our elected officials fully considered the true costs of war-not just in terms of money, but in human lives as well.

That was the vow I made to the troops I deployed with and all those who've served since I hung up my uniform. I'm here today, under this great Capital Dome, to keep that most sacred oath.

Because right now, thousands of our troops are ready to do their jobs, even if it means laying down their lives. And it's tragic-it's disgusting-to me that even as they prepare do their jobs, our president and some members of this chamber seem so eager to neglect their own.

So as those drums of war echo louder than they have in years, I'm here to remind Donald Trump that he does not have the authority to unilaterally force us into war. He may have never read the Constitution, but I have.

So let me direct his attention to Article I, which makes clear that only Congress has the power to declare war. We are the ones tasked with deciding when and how Americans are sent into combat. We are the ones charged with that most solemn duty.

Yet Trump is acting as if Article I simply doesn't exist…as if obeying the Constitution is optional…as if our founding document is just a yellowing, crumbling piece of paper he can crumple up at will.

This should not-must not-be a partisan issue.

No matter if you're struggling to pay rent or your name is plastered in fake gold on a building on Fifth Avenue, no one can ignore the Constitution. No matter if you're a Mar-a-Lago worker pulling double-shifts or the President of the United States, no one is above the law.

Look, I believe there are certain solemn, urgent times when our military must be called upon to defend us. There are certain moments when the threat in question is significant and imminent…Instances when military force is the most effective tool at hand-and that using it is necessary to protect America and her interests.

The thing is, from what little information Trump has shared publicly that he hasn't immediately contradicted, this was not one of those times. But if the Administration thinks I'm wrong, then the floor is theirs.

We're only a 20-minute walk from the White House. It's not hard to find. We're the building with the big dome on top.

Trump knows where the Capitol Building is-it's the spot he told the insurrections to march toward on January 6^th.

So if his team actually believes this war is justified, then they need to come to Congress and do their jobs… explaining their case and giving the American people a say through their elected representatives.

They need to respect the American people enough to finally tell them why they're being forced to bear the costs of this conflict-both in dollars and cents, and daughters and sons.

They need to respect our servicemembers enough to prove why war with Iran is worth more children growing up without their mom or dad.

They need to make clear that they've thought this through well enough that they can actually articulate what an end-state in Iran would even look like.

Then, when their case has been made… when Congress' debate is done… we must vote.

It's our duty.

It's our burden.

It's the least we can do for those willing to sacrifice everything to safeguard our democracy.

But if the Trump Administration refuses to do that? If they refuse to adhere to the Constitution?

Well, then it begs the question: What are they hiding?

Listen, we've now been at war for a month and a half.

Thousands are dead… grieving… wounded… suffering.

Only someone as inept and unfit… someone as callous and cruel… as Trump would see this as "winning."

Only a draft-dodging coward would think that this is the right way to engage in war.

Only a man so unqualified to be Commander-in-Chief would be proud to keep on risking our heroes' lives without even a "concept of a plan" for how to get them back home without risking more graves at Arlington.

We cannot let this chaos continue unchecked.

As our troops continue to sacrifice whatever is asked of them, we Senators need to do the absolute minimum required of us.

That's why, this week, I'm calling up my War Powers Resolution: demanding that the Trump Administration finally end this illegal war and call for some actual public oversight and accountability on behalf of the American people.

It'll come to the floor for a vote shortly.

So to my Republican colleagues, you have a choice. A simple one, really.

You can vote with me to end this conflict and show that you actually care about putting America first like you claim.

Or you can vote to put Trump's ego first… proving that, when push comes to shove, you care more about protecting his thin skin than the Constitution you swore to defend.

At this point it's clear: Donald J. Trump will always be more interested in looking out for his own self-interests rather than truly serving American interests.

The question is if any of my Republican colleagues are brave enough to stand up and tell him: "enough."

Thank you.

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