Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration’s Decision to Send More US Troops to Middle East, Circumvent Congress in Selling Arms to Saudi Arabia

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to send more troops to the Middle East and sell additional arms to Saudi Arabia:

“With Americans across the country commemorating Memorial Day this weekend by reflecting on the sacrifices made by those souls brave enough to have served this nation in uniform, Donald Trump—who refused to serve when his nation called—is hoping we won’t notice that he’s sending even more of our troops into harm’s way. As if that weren’t bad enough, by circumventing the Constitution to sell additional arms to Saudi Arabia despite Congress’s bipartisan objections, Trump is continuing to escalate tensions with Iran and risking yet another war in the Middle East.”

“It is unacceptable that, to this day, Trump has failed to adequately explain to the American people or to Congress—the only branch of government with the Constitutional authority to declare war—many of his recent decisions regarding Iran. While he and people like John Bolton appear dead set on beating the drums of war once again and sending other people’s children into harms’ way, the need for Congress to reassert itself in our nation’s foreign policy and war making has never been more clear.”

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