Kamala Harris said Saturday that she does not support efforts aimed at toppling Iran’s regime, breaking with the administration’s decision to launch Operation Epic Fury and criticizing President Donald Trump’s handling of the conflict.
The former vice president issued her statement shortly after the coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes began, characterizing the military action as “a war American people do not want.”
Her remarks came even as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed inside his fortified compound along with approximately 40 senior Iranian security and regime officials.
“Let me be clear: I am opposed to a regime-change war in Iran, and our troops are being put in harm’s way for the sake of Trump’s war of choice,” Harris wrote in a statement posted to X on Saturday.
“This is a dangerous and unnecessary gamble with American lives that also jeopardizes stability in the region and our standing in the world. What we are witnessing is not strength. It is recklessness dressed up as resolve.”
Harris acknowledged what she described as the seriousness of the Iranian threat, saying she understands the “threat that Iran poses” and agrees the regime “must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,” but added that “this is not the way to dismantle that threat.”
She also accused the president of contradicting his past statements, referencing his prior pledge to “end wars rather than start them” and his claim that the United States had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program” in 2025.
“And let us all be clear-eyed about what comes next. The President has already said this conflict may produce American casualties…Our troops deserve a Commander-in-Chief who approaches decisions on matters of war and peace with the same steadiness and discipline our troops show every day. Under the Constitution of the United States, the President must receive authorization from Congress to enter a war,” she said.
Harris concluded by calling the weekend’s military action “unwise, unjustified, and not supported by the American people.”
“There can be no equivocation in our opposition to Donald Trump’s war of choice, and Congress must use all available power to prevent him from further committing us to this conflict. Our troops, our allies, and the American people deserve nothing less.”
Her comments quickly drew backlash online, with critics questioning her leadership and judgment.
“Thank You Kamala! We Love You! Sincerely, The Mullahs,” wrote longtime Israeli supporter and advocate John Ondrasik of the music group Five for Fighting.
Another commenter wrote: “When you can put a sentence together, we’ll consider listening.”
A third added: “What the ‘American people want’ has always seemed to have eluded you. Try to stop confusing it with ‘what we want the American people to want.’ When the polls come out next week, you will again be totally surprised by how unpopular your positions are.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also weighed in, labeling the airstrikes “illegal” while criticizing the president. His remarks prompted swift pushback as well.
“The corrupt and repressive Iranian regime must never have nuclear weapons. The leadership of Iran must go,” Newsom wrote on X Saturday, after the US and Israel launched the coordinated strikes early that morning.
“But that does not justify the President of the United States engaging in an illegal, dangerous war that will risk the lives of our American service members and our friends without justification to the American people.
His post triggered immediate responses challenging what critics described as mixed messaging.
“Which one is Gavin? They can’t have nuclear weapons and need to be removed? Or is the operation not justified?” one X user responded. “Pick one stance please. If you want to run for President, you should get comfortable making bold statements on where you stand.”
Another defended the president’s authority, writing: “Not illegal — but you’d have to be able to read the Constitution to know that,” the user wrote.
The military campaign followed weeks of stalled negotiations centered on Iran’s refusal to dismantle its nuclear program.
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