Schumer: ‘We do not need this president either bumbling or impulsively getting us into a major war’

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) stressed Sunday that congressional approval is needed to enter a war, saying President Trump’s decision to order the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani brought the U.S. closer to that possibility.

Schumer said on ABC’s “This Week” that he was concerned Trump’s decision will “get us into another endless war in the Middle East,” adding that the U.S. is “closer to that” because of his actions.  

“I am really worried, and that is why Congress must assert itself,” the Senate minority leader said, noting that the president does not have the authority to start a war without congressional approval.

“I think Congress and I will do everything I can to assert our authority,” he said. “We do not need this president either bumbling or impulsively getting us into a major war.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tells @GStephanopoulos Pres. Trump needs congressional approval to go to war: “Congress must assert itself … We do not need this president either bumbling or impulsively getting us into a major war.” https://t.co/z82TaCy7xx pic.twitter.com/jqAsq7rbLP

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 5, 2020

Schumer said the president needed a check from Congress before making a decision that could lead to war and added that Trump’s foreign policy has been “erratic and unsuccessful thus far.”

He said the next steps are for the U.S. to determine what Iran’s ability to retaliate is and how the U.S. will prepare for it.

{mosads}The president approved a strike that killed Soleimani last week, resulting in Iran promising retaliation against the U.S. Several top lawmakers in Congress were not notified of the attack ahead of time.

Trump answered Iran’s threats of retaliation by saying the U.S. will hit 52 targets “very fast and very hard” if the country acts on its threats.