KEY TAKEAWAYS
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned 53 House Democrats who voted against a resolution affirming Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism
- The measure passed 372-53 on Thursday, a dramatic shift from a near-unanimous 420-1 vote on identical language in 2023
- Democrats are attempting to block Trump administration military actions through repeated war powers resolutions, which have failed in the Senate
- Iran-backed forces have killed over 600 U.S. service members, according to Pentagon figures cited in the resolution
House Democrats who opposed a resolution condemning Iran as the world’s top state sponsor of terror have “lost their minds,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared Friday on Fox News Channel. Fifty-three House Democrats voted against the measure Thursday, marking a stark reversal from 2023 when the chamber voted 420-1 on identical language.
Leavitt’s Scathing Rebuke
“I couldn’t have said it better myself. Nearly three years ago, in 2023, every single member of the House of Representatives, with the exception of one, voted together on this resolution condemning Iran as the world’s state leading sponsor of terror,” Leavitt said on “America Reports.”
“And now in 2026, you have Democrats on Capitol Hill who have been so debilitated by their derangement and their hatred for the man in the Oval Office right now that they cannot even condemn the world’s leading state sponsor of terror,” she continued. “That’s just 53 Democrats who have lost their minds.”
What the Resolution States
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., introduced the resolution, which passed 372-53 and affirms that the Islamic Republic of Iran “remains the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism and provides substantial financial and military support to groups including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.”
The measure notes that Iran “poses a direct and persistent threat to the United States and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American citizens.” According to Pentagon figures cited in the resolution, “Iranian-backed proxy militias are responsible for the deaths of at least 603 U.S. service members in Iraq – roughly one in every six American combat fatalities.”
Why Democrats Opposed It
Leavitt explained that Democrats are attempting to undermine Trump administration actions designed to protect American forces and interests in the Middle East.
“They are trying desperately to try to undermine President Trump’s essential action that he took to protect the United States of America, to protect our bases and our troops in the Middle East, and to ultimately ensure a more safe and prosperous world, not just in the Middle East, but across the entire globe as well,” she said.
Senate War Powers Effort Fails Again
In a related development, Democrats pushed a separate resolution in the Senate aimed at limiting President Trump’s authority to wage war in Iran. The measure failed for the fourth time in a 52-47 vote largely along party lines.
Democrats indicated they plan to introduce similar war powers resolutions weekly. However, most Republicans have remained aligned with the president, though some have suggested their positions could shift if military operations extend beyond the current timeline.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., notably broke ranks with his party by voting against the war powers resolution, aligning with Republican opposition.
Fox News Digital / CelebBNews contributed to this report.