U.S. lawmakers react to Trump's threat to destroy "a whole civilization" in Iran

Democrats in Congress panned President Trump's latest rhetoric Tuesday, voicing concern about possible escalation in the Iran war after Mr. Trump warned in a social media post that "a whole civilization will die tonight" ahead of his deadline for Iran's rulers to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the president "an extremely sick person." He and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged Republicans in Congress to express opposition to the war.

"It's time for every single Republican to put patriotic duty over party and stop the madness,"  said Jeffries, a New York Democrat.

Rank-and-file members in both the House and Senate expressed outrage after Mr. Trump's threat. Some called for impeachment and for the 25th amendment to be invoked to remove Mr. Trump from office, while others demanded that House Speaker Mike Johnson call Congress back into session immediately and said the president's threats could constitute war crimes. 

GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin stressed on John Solomon's podcast Monday that he did not "want to see us start blowing up civilian infrastructure."