Democrats have offered their support and praise for President Donald Trump after he ordered a military strike against a Syrian airbase Thursday night.
The United States military launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Shayrat Airfield, a Syrian military airbase. U.S. officials believe the airbase was where Syrian President Basha al-Assad forces allegedly carried out Tuesday's airstrike that involved chemical weapons.
Trump's decision was met with praise by his political opponents across the aisle.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) released a statement that applauded Trump's actions as the "right thing to do."
Please see my statement following the US military strike in Syria: pic.twitter.com/MmiFY1LNxS
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 7, 2017
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Cal.) released a statement approving the military action.
"Tonight’s strike in Syria appears to be a proportional response to the regime’s use of chemical weapons. If the President intends to escalate the U.S. military’s involvement in Syria, he must to come to Congress for an Authorization for Use of Military Force which is tailored to meet the threat and prevent another open-ended war in the Middle East," her statement reads.
But not all Democrats approved of Trump's actions. Virginian senator and former Democratic vice-president candidate Tim Kaine called Trump's order "unconstitutional."
President waging military action against Syria without a vote of Congress? Unconstitutional.
— Senator Tim Kaine (@timkaine) April 7, 2017
Sen. Kaine wasn't the only senator who believes Trump needed to come to Congress before he ordered the military strike in Syria. Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) tweeted out Thursday night that the president needs to come to Congress for approval before military action.
The President needs Congressional authorization for military action as required by the Constitution.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 7, 2017