GOP Targets Biden After Drone Attack Kills 3 U.S. Troops

The eventual U.S. response to the attack has raised concerns about escalating conflict in the region, which is already growing as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

President Joe Biden has pledged to respond. But GOP lawmakers are sure to be critical of the president as a rematch of Biden and former President Donald Trump appears more likely in the 2024 election.

And nothing less than a direct strike on Iran would appease some Republicans in Congress.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said that the “tragedy was avoidable.”

“For years now Biden has emboldened Iran–sending them billions & tolerating their aggression against our troops,” he posted on social media. “America must show strength.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was direct: “I am calling on the Biden Administration to strike targets of significance inside Iran, not only as reprisal for the killing of our forces, but as deterrence against future aggression.”

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas made a similar demand.

“The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran’s terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East,” Cotton said. “Anything less will confirm Joe Biden as a coward unworthy of being commander-in-chief.”

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas originally posted “Target Tehran” before clarifying that he was not calling on the Biden administration to bomb Iranian civilians.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates dismissed the calls as “attempts by far right congressional Republicans to politicize our national security.”

“In fact, these Republican officials never criticized the previous administration when the same militias attacked American troops, including in 2020. If congressional Republicans share President Biden’s priority of holding Iran accountable, they should back his retaliation against the groups who committed today’s acts, as well as the national security supplemental request – and they should stop giving Iran a pass for helping Russia attack Ukraine,” Bates wrote in a statement.