Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin has issued a statement saying that Trump violated the limits of his power, as set forth in the US Constitution, by ordering the attacks on Iran, Al Jazeera reports.

“President Trump’s actions in bombing Iran puts the US on the brink of a wider war in the Middle East, all without constitutionally required Congressional approval,” he said.

Under the Constitution, only the US Congress can declare war, although presidents can take unilateral military action in some circumstances, notably to thwart an imminent threat.

While Democrats have led the condemnation, some members of Trump’s Republican party have also criticised the attacks. They include Representative Thomas Massie, who has urged colleagues to vote on a bill that would assert that any military action against Iran must be approved by Congress.

Yesterday, Trump took to Truth Social to criticise Massie as a “negative force” who does not represent the Republican base.

Massie responded by saying, “[Trump] declared so much War on me today it should require an Act of Congress”.