Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today joined 12 fellow House Democratic veterans in condemning Trump’s threat to wipe out Iranian civilization, warning that such rhetoric is dangerous, escalatory, and threatens a war crime.
“Words matter in times of peace, but especially in times of war. We served our country and are no strangers to war. What Trump threatened this morning — that ‘a whole civilization will die tonight’ — cannot be ignored, rationalized, or dismissed. It is not ‘strategic posturing’ to threaten to annihilate an entire people. It threatens a war crime so grave that no person should condone it.
“There is no strategic justification for threatening to destroy an entire civilization, and anyone who says otherwise is unfit for office. Any elected official cheering on this rhetoric, rationalizing it as tough talk, and failing to acknowledge the gravity of what the president is threatening is simply unfit.
“We need to immediately return to DC and stop this illegal war. We took oaths to the Constitution and the American people, not a political party nor a leader. The time to do something is now, and we must act.”
He co-sent the statement alongside U.S. Representatives Pat Ryan (N.Y.-18), Ted Lieu (Calif.-36), Chris Deluzio (Pa.-17), Derek Tran (Calif.-45), Jimmy Panetta (Calif.-19), Seth Moulton (Mass.-06), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.-06), Salud Carbajal (Calif.-24), Bobby Scott (Va.-03), Jason Crow (Colo.-06), Maggie Goodlander (N.H.-02), Mike Thompson (Calif.-04), and Herb Conaway (N.J.-03).
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