As President Donald Trump addressed the nation late Saturday to tell of “very successful” bombs dropped by the U.S. on Iranian nuclear sites, Kentucky politicians took to social media to praise — or challenge — his decision.

Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican and frequent critic of Trump, immediately criticized the bombings, posting on social media: “This is not Constitutional.”

Many of Kentucky’s other prominent Republicans, including Sen. Mitch McConnell, expressed support for the operation.

The U.S. attacks came after several days of missile exchanges between Iran and Israel, an American ally, amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The U.S. became involved in the conflict Saturday night, when Trump confirmed the military had bombed three Iranian development sites.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump posted on X Saturday night. “...There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”

Vice President JD Vance spoke on several news stations Sunday morning to argue the bombing was not an act of war, but a result of failed negotiations with Iranian leaders, who declined to end their nuclear operations.

“If the Iranians attack us, they’re going to be met with overwhelming force ... We did not attack the nation of Iran,” Vance said. “We did not attack any civilian targets. We didn’t even attack military targets outside of the three nuclear weapons facilities.”

But Massie argued in a follow-up social media post Sunday morning that Trump ordered the airstrikes without approval from Congress, and they were an official act of war, which would require congressional approval.

Last week, Massie filed a resolution to ban the United States from involvement in the Israel-Iran war.

“When two countries are bombing each other daily in a hot war, and a third country joins the bombing, that’s an act of war,” Massie said.

The Kentucky congressman also took to the television airwaves Sunday morning to express his disappointment with Trump’s action. In a CBS interview alongside California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, Massie framed the move as going against a crucial part of the new Republican party.

“I think I represent part of the coalition that elected President Trump. We were tired of endless wars in the Middle East and tired of wars in East Eastern Europe, and we were promised that we would put our veterans, our immigration policies and our infrastructure first,” Massie said.

Khanna agreed, saying the hawkish decision to bomb the sites goes against certain isolationist leanings within the MAGA coalition represented by Massie as well as media personalities like Tucker Carlson and Theo Von, as well former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.

Massie rejected the label of “isolationist” in favor of the term “non-interventionist.” He said that in response to a comment made by Sen. McConnell last week, when the Iran-Israel conflict was brewing, that it had been a “bad week for the isolationists.”

“I’ll concede this. It was a good week for the neo-cons in the military industrial complex who want war all the time. I wouldn’t call my side of the MAGA base isolationists. We are, we’re exhausted. We are tired from all of these wars, and we’re non-interventionists,” Massie said.

Rep. Stephen Lynch, acting and ranking Democratic member of the U.S. oversight committee from Massachusetts, said he would join Massie and Khanna in War Powers legislation to reassert their role.

“This is a flagrant and unconstitutional action that potentially brings our nation to the precipice of war,” Lynch said in a statement on Sunday. “My thoughts are with our brave men and women who defend this country. Now Congress must immediately reclaim our Constitutional authority and conduct rigorous oversight of President Trump’s decision to carry out this attack.”

Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky’s only Democrat in Congress, said he planned to hold Trump’s administration accountable for the decision to engage without congressional authority.

“Congress and the American people deserve answers,” McGarvey said in an official statement. “My constituents do not want to be dragged into another endless war with the Middle East.”

While he had yet to weigh in Sunday morning, Sen. Rand Paul said previously he would not vote to send American troops to Iran.

But other Kentucky politicians supported the airstrikes and argued that Saturday’s bombing was an isolated incident that didn’t require congressional support.

McConnell, another occasional critic of Trump, said in a statement Saturday night the bombings were not an act of war, but rather a “prudent response.”

“I commend the President for authorizing decisive action and all U.S. service members responsible for carrying it out,” McConnell said. “The United States’ interest in denying Iran a nuclear weapon, in standing with our ally, Israel, and in reestablishing credible deterrent power is undeniable and urgent.”

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman vowed the United States would stand with Israel. In ordering the airstrikes, Coleman said Trump once again showed “what American strength looks like.”

Rep. Hal Rogers said Trump’s actions eliminated the growing nuclear threat from Iran, after decades of attempts from previous administrations have failed.

“Disarming a nation that aggressively chants “Death to America” from developing a nuclear weapon to annihilate us, is a victory for America and all our allies,” Rogers said.

Daniel Cameron, former Kentucky attorney general and future U.S. Senate hopeful, also commended Trump for his “decisive leadership.”

“Because of your decisive leadership, this country and our great ally, Israel, are safer. God bless you and the men and women who protect our Nation,” Cameron said.

Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr, who is competing with Cameron for the GOP Senate nomination in 2026, called Trump’s decision a “profile in Presidential courage.”

“I’m praying for our troops in the Middle East and throughout the world. Iran should know this: retaliate, and you’ll regret it. Now is the time for Peace,” Barr shared. “America never wavers. Trump never caves.”

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