CALIFORNIA — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers from both parties reacted after joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran, February 28, that killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Reporting by Iranian officials said a strike hit a girls’ school in southern Iran killing dozens of students, with some estimates exceeding 80 victims.
In response to the killing of Khamenei, Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. targets in the region. U.S. Central Command later reported three U.S. service members were killed.
Newsom said Iran’s oppressive leadership must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
“The leadership of Iran must go. 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,” Newsom said.
He continued that President Donald Trump is putting Americans at risk abroad because he is unpopular at home, and that California stands with the Iranian American community in the state.
Several Democratic members of Congress echoed these concerns.
“Trump is drawing our country into yet another foreign war that Americans don’t want and Congress has not authorized. The Iranian regime is a brutal and murderous dictatorship. But that does not give Trump the authority to unilaterally initiate a war of choice,” Sen. Adam Schiff said.
He called for Congress to immediately return to vote on the Kaine-Paul-Schiff-Schumer War Powers Resolution.
Sen. Alex Padilla argued that while millions of Americans face higher costs of living and health care, Trump is pushing the nation toward a war that risks American lives without offering a clear justification to the American people or any plan to prevent escalation and chaos in the region.
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) contended that toppling Iran’s regime could lead to a safer America and a more peaceful world.
“And our hearts go out to the families of the three heroic American service members who have tragically lost their lives,” Kiley said.
27% of Americans approve of strikes
The strikes, Trump has repeatedly said, were necessary to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.
He previously claimed U.S. and Israeli strikes in June 2025 “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, but has since said Tehran is attempting to rebuild those capabilities and continues to pose a threat.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only about 27% of Americans approved of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, while 43% disapproved and 29% were unsure.
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