Illinois congressional delegation split on support for US attacks on Iran

Donald Trump speaking in front of VP and secretaries.
President Donald Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington, Saturday, June 21, 2025, after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites, directly joining Israel's effort to decapitate the country's nuclear program, as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen.

President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. has bombed nuclear sites in Iran earned support from Illinois Republican congress members and sharp criticism from Democratic members.

Rep. Mary Miller, the Republican Freedom Caucus member representing IL 15th congressional district wrote on X formerly twitter that the strikes were quote “a great victory for the United States”.

Another downstate Republican, 12th District Representative. Mike Bost wrote on X that he trusts Trump targeted Iran’s nuclear program, based on intelligence that said the country was within reach of developing nuclear weapons that could threaten American citizens and troops.

GOP Congressman Darin LaHood, representing the 16th district, said the President and the U-S have been clear – under no circumstances can Iran be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

On the Democratic side, 2nd District Congresswoman Robin Kelly said quote “President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran will not lead to peace but rather cause more violence, destruction and conflict in the Middle East.”

She called on Trump to come to Congress for authorization of the use of military force.

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called President Trump’s bombing of Iranian nuclear sites an illegal action that threatens to draw the U-S into another Middle East war without Congressional approval.

The Illinois Democrat said in a statement last (Saturday) night that the administration should come before Congress immediately to seek authorization for any more action against Iran.

Early Sunday morning, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said Trump’s actions have put the U-S on the brink of a wider war in the Middle East.

Durbin also said Trump ‘killed’ the Iran nuclear deal which required mandatory inspections. Without the deal, Iran has been developing weapons grade materials.

Reginald Hardwick

Reginald Hardwick is the News & Public Affairs Director at Illinois Public Media. He oversees daily newscasts and online stories. He also manages The 21st Show, a live, weekday talk show that airs on six NPR stations throughout Illinois. He is the executive producer of IPM's annual environmental TV special "State of Change." And he is the co-creator of Illinois Soul, IPM's Black-focused audio service that launched in February 2024. Before arriving at IPM in 2019, he served as News Director at WKAR in East Lansing and spent 17 years as a TV news producer and manager at KXAS, the NBC-owned station in Dallas/Fort Worth. Reginald is the recipient of three Edward R. Murrow regional awards, seven regional Emmy awards, and multiple honors from the National Association of Black Journalists. Born in Vietnam, Reginald grew up in Colorado and is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado. Email: rh14@illinois.edu Twitter: @RNewsIPM