U.S. Democratic lawmakers have sharply rebuked President Donald Trump following his controversial threat to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure, warning that his rhetoric risks dangerous escalation.
Senator Chris Van Hollen openly questioned Trump’s fitness for office, writing on social media that the president is “clearly unfit” to lead.
His criticism was echoed by Senator Chris Murphy, who described Trump as “completely, utterly unhinged,” amid growing concern within Democratic ranks over the administration’s handling of the crisis.
The backlash comes after Trump issued an expletive-laden warning threatening strikes on Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a move that has drawn widespread political condemnation, dw.com reports.
The remarks have intensified political tensions in Washington, with critics arguing that such language undermines U.S. credibility and could further inflame an already volatile regional conflict.
This came after Trump escalated his rhetoric against Iran, issuing a renewed ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face potential strikes on key civilian infrastructure.
In a strongly worded post on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned that failure by Tehran to comply by the April 6 deadline would trigger what he described as “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day” in Iran, signaling possible attacks on critical facilities.
Scott Lucas of University College Dublin described the language as indicative of mounting frustration.
He added that the rhetoric reflects “anger and desperation” as Washington struggles to secure compliance from Iran amid the ongoing standoff.
