Gang of Eight Tries to Gauge How Close Trump Is to Military Action Against Iran

On Capitol Hill, there has been little public debate, limited briefings and no vote that would force Congress to weigh in before a strike.

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader John Thune arrives to the Capitol Visitor Center for a briefing about Iran. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images) Tom Williams/AP

Lawmakers left a classified briefing on Iran Tuesday with a sense that President Donald Trump could move quickly to launch military action against the country, as lawmakers try to gauge what role, if any, Congress would play before it happens.

“This is serious, and the administration has to make its case to the American people,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said after Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed the Gang of Eight, the small group of congressional leaders who receive sensitive intelligence updates.

The closed-door session came hours before Trump’s State of the Union address, and as U.S. officials continue to press forward on diplomatic efforts with Tehran.