DSR's Words Matter Top House Dem: Trump’s Got No Good Options in Iran
Mar 27, 2026
Adam Smith, Ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee and U.S. Representative from Washington, offers a congressional view on defense and national security. He discusses the sinking U.S. campaign in Iran. He outlines legal limits on presidential action, threats to TSA and DHS funding, military promotion loyalty issues, regional escalation risks, and the urgent need for an off-ramp.
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Trump Seeks Political Pain Over Practical Solutions
- Trump is intentionally maximizing political pain rather than minimizing harm when disputes arise.
- Rep. Adam Smith says Trump ramps up chaos (e.g., refusing bipartisan DHS fix) to blame opponents and gain advantage.
President Lacks Authority To Unilaterally Pay TSA
- The president cannot legally use executive action to unilaterally fund TSA payroll.
- Smith notes past attempts are routinely sued and blocked, and a bipartisan bill already exists to restore TSA pay.
Republican Fear Keeps Party Aligned With Trump
- Republican members largely avoid challenging Trump out of fear of primary retaliation.
- Smith explains Trump controls the party: if he targets you in a primary, '99 times out of 100, you lose,' so colleagues acquiesce.