PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia lawmakers and officials reacted Saturday to President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. has completed airstrikes on several Iranian nuclear sites.

Sen. Tim Kaine posted to X: “The American public is overwhelmingly opposed to the U.S. waging war on Iran. And the Israeli Foreign Minister admitted yesterday that Israeli bombing had set the Iranian nuclear program back “at least 2 or 3 years.” So what made Trump recklessly decide to rush and bomb today? Horrible judgment. I will push for all Senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war.”

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin took to X, as well: “President Donald J. Trump meant what he has said over and over again: Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. Promises made, promises kept 🇺🇸.”

Norfolk State University political commentator Dr. Eric Claville said the United States’ involvement in the bombing puts us squarely in the middle of the conflict. He said this will impact Naval Station Norfolk.

“Only Congress can declare war. However, Congress hasn’t done that since World War II. However, we have fought many battles across the world since that time period with the war powers and with the executive powers that we’ve given our president. So, I would say very clearly that we are now at war with the many ways,” said Claville.

“Our military personnel will be immediately engaged in this effort… Our economy, everyone around, we are squarely engaged as well,” adds Claville.

Rep. Bobby Scott said, “The President has attacked another nation without congressional authorization. There was no apparent imminent Iranian threat against the United States. Furthermore, the President’s own Director of National Intelligence testified before Congress earlier this year that the U.S. intelligence community assessed Iran was not building a nuclear weapon.

Our nation cannot again go to war with faulty intelligence. We saw what happened in Iraq in 2003, which dragged the United States into a protracted war in the Middle East for eight years. That is why it is imperative that we pass the War Powers Resolution, authored by Senator Tim Kaine in the Senate and Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna in the House, to terminate any ongoing military action by the United States against Iran unless authorized by Congress.

I remain hopeful for a diplomatic solution. Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. However, we had reached a diplomatic solution to guard against Iran developing a nuclear weapon when President Obama successfully negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 between Iran, the United States and the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. This agreement was broadly supported by the international community and Iran was complying until President Trump withdrew the United States from the JCPOA in 2018. We would not be in this mess now if the President had not withdrawn from that agreement.”

In a statement sent to WAVY, Rep. Kiggans is in support of the actions President Trump took.

“I fully support President Trump’s decision to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. A nuclear-armed Iran is an unacceptable threat—not just to Israel, but to the safety of the American people. The President exercised patience and gave Iran every opportunity to de-escalate. When they refused, he acted decisively to protect U.S. lives and prevent a greater conflict.

These were limited, targeted strikes carried out by the greatest military in the world, and I’m incredibly proud of the brave men and women who completed this mission. President Trump’s actions reflect peace through strength and fall well within his constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief—just as Presidents Obama and Biden used similar powers to authorize strikes in Libya, Syria, and Yemen.

I encourage every American to pray for our troops, our leaders, and our country as we move forward with greater security and strength.”

Rep. Kiggans

We will update as additional reactions come in.