Mississippi officials offered sharply divided reactions Saturday after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, with prominent Republicans praising the operation and Democrats demanding briefings and asserting the White House did not seek congressional authorization.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that President Donald Trump “took decisive action against the threat posed by the world’s leading proliferator of terrorism, the Iranian regime.” Wicker said the operation was “pivotal and necessary” to protect Americans and American interests and quoted the president’s goals of thwarting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, degrading its missile capabilities and destroying its naval and terrorism capabilities.
Other Mississippi Republicans voiced support on social media. Gov. Tate Reeves wrote on X that he was “Praying for our troops who are putting themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe,” and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith said on X that the president was “acting decisively to confront the Iranian regime.” Attorney General Lynn Fitch and State Auditor Shad White also posted messages invoking prayers and support for the military.
Mississippi’s lone Democratic member of Congress, Rep. Bennie Thompson, said Trump did not seek congressional approval before ordering the strikes. Thompson, the ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a post that “Once again, President Trump has attacked Iran without Congressional approval or a clear strategy” and expressed concern about increased vulnerability to terrorism and the administration’s ability to protect Americans. Democrats in Congress called for an immediate briefing on the strikes.
Strikes hit multiple locations in Tehran, including areas near facilities associated with Iran’s top leadership, and Iranian state media reported dozens of civilian casualties. Iran has retaliated against U.S. and Israeli targets across the Middle East, with explosions reported in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Dubai and Bahrain, where a U.S. Navy base was struck by a missile, CNN reported.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
