Trump’s Iran strike sends Democrats into tailspin over how to respond

President Trump has caught Democrats off guard over how to respond to the decisive airstrikes he ordered against Iran’s nuclear program — perhaps the most consequential move his his second administration.

While some Democrats erupted in fury, including a few like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who demanded he be impeached, others are outright praising the attacks as overdue. Dem leadership, meanwhile, is seemingly moving the goalposts for how tough they expect Trump to be on Iran.

“It’s all over the map,” Democratic strategist Brad Bannon, who hosts the progressive podcast “Deadline DC,” admitted to The Post about the party’s messaging on the strikes against Iran.

“It’s never good when messaging is all over the map,” he added. “Democrats have to find a way to unite against Trump’s provocations. The implications of this are mind-numbing.”

Shortly after Trump announced his strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities, a few Democrats began beating the drums for impeaching Trump (for a third time), accusing the president of exceeding his constitutional powers.

“The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,” AOC (D-NY) declared on X. “It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”

Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), echoed that sentiment as well.

But many in the party are wary that the impeachment would be futile or could even risk bolstering Trump politically, recounting how he survived two impeachment efforts in the past.

“I think impeachment is not a wide sentiment. That’s fringes,” a top Democratic source told The Post, despite the clamoring among the left flank.

Then there was the staunchly pro-Israel cohort of Democrats, who quickly praised Trump’s actions, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

“As I’ve long maintained, this was the correct move,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) declared. “Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities. I’m grateful for and salute the finest military in the world.”

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) hailed the move, concluding that “The world is safer because of the actions of our brave service members.”

Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Jared Moskowitz (D-NJ) similarly implied that the world is safer because of the Trump-directed strikes but caveated that Congress should approve offensive strikes.

“Presidents of both parties have unilaterally undertaken major military operations without Congressional authorization,” Torres noted. “If there is a serious effort to reclaim those powers, I would vote for it.”

Democratic leadership, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), both faulted Trump for escalating the situation in the region.

But, almost three weeks ago, Schumer, who voted against the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, blasted Trump over reports that his negotiators were set to take a much softer line on Iran’s uranium enrichment — something the president later denied.

He referenced a derisive acronym in his statement — TACO, short for “Trump Always Chickens Out.”

“If TACO Trump is already folding on Iran, the American people need to know about it,” Schumer declared at the time. “No side deals.”

But Trump didn’t chicken out. And now the Dems don’t quite know what to do.

“I wish Trump had chickened out on this one,” Bannon quipped.

“Trump’s actions put American troops in danger…and also, there’s a threat to the American economy with rising gasoline prices,” he continued, referring to the risks of Iran targeting the Strait of Hormuz.

Bannon argued that Democrats shouldn’t dwell on Trump’s strikes or focus on impeachment, but instead concentrate on the future.

He suggested the party should rally behind a bipartisan measure from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to limit the president’s ability to take further military action against Iran without congressional authorization.

Several Republicans appear to be open to backing that measure or similar legislation.

“What is not fringe is the agreement that the War Powers Act is being violated. Congress consultation ignored,” the Democratic source added.

“Many Dems would support strikes in theory, but can’t blindly without more information. There needs to be communication of a plan, grounded by intel and shared with the Gang of Eight.”

The Gang of Eight is comprised of the Republican and Democratic leaders and their top members on the intelligence committee in both chambers of Congress.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee and Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, were not briefed ahead of time, but their GOP counterparts were, sources claim.