The U.S. House members representing Greater Cincinnati offered unusual topsy-turvy responses to the Trump administration’s attacks on Iran.
While most members of Congress fell into their predictable party-line talking points, the Southwest Ohio delegation featured two Republicans who questioned President Trump’s actions and a Democrat who praised them.
Rep. Greg Landsman, Democrat
District: 1st, which includes the city of Cincinnati, parts of eastern Hamilton County, and all of Warren County.
U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman said “this was the moment” for the U.S. and Israel to launch attacks on Iranian military targets. In a video call with reporters Feb. 28, the Democrat from Cincinnati’s Mount Washington neighborhood said Iran’s defenses were weakened and Saturday there was an opportunity to destroy remaining military assets.
“These targeted strikes have hopefully destroyed the missiles and bombs and done so in a way that stops the regime from destroying more lives,” he said. Landsman, who is Jewish, has said he believes “strongly in Israel’s right and responsibility to defend itself.”
Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican
District: Kentucky’s 4th congressional district, which includes all of Northern Kentucky.
U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, who has incurred Trump’s wrath over the Epstein files and government spending, called the attacks a “war of aggression” by the U.S.
Massie, who lives on a farm in Garrison, Ky., said he would push a resolution in the House the week of March 2 that would prohibit the United States military from unauthorized hostilities in Iran without congressional approval.
“It’s not too late. This is a war of aggression that the United States took on behalf of Israel,” Massie told The Enquirer Feb. 28.
Rep. Warren Davidson, Republican
District: 8th, which includes western Hamilton County, all of Butler County, and several western Ohio counties.
The Republican from Troy indicated that he too opposed Trump’s attacks and, like Massie, warned that Trump needed congressional approval.
He said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he would support Massie’s War Powers Resolution.
“Surely Congress can be troubled with a vote?” he posted Feb. 28. “Surely any administration can define the mission?”
Rep. David Taylor, Republican
District: 2nd, which includes Clermont County and several other southern Ohio counties.
The freshman Republican from Amelia has not posted a response, though he did support Trump’s attacks last year on Iran.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Iran attack scrambles partisan lines in Cincinnati delegation
Reporting by Carl Weiser, Jolene Almendarez and Anthony Shoemaker, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
