​Multiple Bay Area Leaders Decry U.S. Strikes On Iran

BAY AREA, CA — Multiple Bay Area leaders decried U.S. strikes on Iran on Saturday over social media and from their offices.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said attacks by the U.S. should go through Congress.

"It is Congress' Constitutional responsibility to debate and approve any use of military force," he said in a statement released by his office Saturday night. "This is why I called on Speaker Johnson last week to reconvene the U.S. House of Representatives, and I am calling on him once again to call us back into session now. Members must be briefed immediately on the evolving situation in the Middle East so we can fulfill our Constitutional responsibilities."

Silicon Valley-based U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna also called for Congress to convene Saturday after the attacks.

"Donald Trump has just launched military strikes into Iran without any congressional authorization," said Khanna in a Facebook video. "It's blatantly unconstitutional."

Khanna called for the immediate return of members of Congress to Washington D.C. to vote on his war powers resolution he coauthored with U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) to "stop the endless war in Iran."

"We can't have Americans sent to Iran risking their lives and risking hundreds of billions of dollars of American taxpayer dollars," Khanna added.

Massie also posted Saturday against the U.S. action in Iran on X, calling it unconstitutional.

California state Sen. Dave Cortese, D-Silicon Valley, also spoke out against the strikes.

"I join leaders from both parties in condemning the President's military strike against Iran, which was made without any authorization from Congress, and call for the immediate prevention of further escalation," he said in a statement from his office on Saturday night. "This type of unilateral, violent action from our federal administration is deeply alarming, but not surprising, and it risks triggering global instability as well as retaliatory attacks against America."

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, also condemned the attacks.

"Tonight, the President ignored the Constitution by unilaterally engaging our military without Congressional authorization," Pelosi wrote on the social media platform X. "I join my colleagues in demanding answers from the Administration on this operation which endangers American lives and risks further escalation and dangerous destabilization of the region."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom told the state his office was monitoring the situation.

"Following the President's action in Iran, California's State Threat Assessment Center is actively monitoring for any potential impacts in California," Newsom wrote on X. "While there are no specific or credible counter threats we are aware of at this time, we urge everyone to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity."

President Trump said on social media on Saturday that the U.S. had completed three "successful" attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.

"All planes are now outside of Iran air space" he wrote. "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

In an address to the nation on Saturday night, Trump said Iran can expect "far greater" attacks if it refuses to make peace.

"There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days," said Trump. "Remember, there are many targets left."

By Katy St. Clair / Bay City News

Copyright © 2025 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.