Virginia leaders react to Trump’s war on Iran

President Donald Trump has dragged America into another war in the Middle East. Here’s what Virginia’s political leaders are saying about it and how it’s impacting the state.

The response in Virginia to President Donald Trump’s war with Iran is dividing along partisan lines.

Virginia Democrats are attacking Trump for launching a war with a country that posed no immediate threat to America.

And Virginia Republicans are cheering on a war that’s already resulted in the killing of hundreds of Iranian school girls and American soldiers. 

Here’s the latest. Story updated March 3, 2026. 

US Sen. Tim Kaine criticized Trump for campaigning as a peace president only to launch a new war in the Middle East.

What happened to the peace president? What happened to bringing costs down?
@SenTimKaine pic.twitter.com/MUhqkVI8Hx

— Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) March 3, 2026

US Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia’s 8th congressional district said he’s “heard from constituents who are in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, the U.A.E., and Qatar or have family there and are frantically trying to get to safety.”

“The (Trump) Administration must immediately do everything possible to get our people home, and Congress must investigate this shocking failure of leadership that needlessly put American lives in danger,” Beyer said in a statement.

Multiple US embassies have said they are unable to help citizens trying to leave, Business Insider reports.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she has been briefed on the involvement of members of Virginia’s National Guard in the war and the region.

I’ve been briefed on the positions of Virginia National Guard personnel in the region, including those who supported this operation. I remain in communication with the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs.

I’m focused on the safety of Virginians in the region.

— Governor Abigail Spanberger (@GovernorVA) March 2, 2026

US Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia’s 10th congressional district wants to know what the Trump administration’s plan is to get hundreds of thousands of US citizens out of the Middle East. 

This administration needs to do something about protecting the 300,000 U.S. citizens stranded in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/2cOHOci3vg

— Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) (@RepSuhas) March 3, 2026

US Sen. Mark Warner says Iran posed no “imminent threat” to the US. Warner says Trump needs to explain what the goals are for a war where Americans are dying. 

What are the President’s goals in Iran?

The American people – especially military families like the mother I spoke with in Norfolk whose husband is deployed on the USS Ford – deserve an answer. pic.twitter.com/cxIYJpxZTy

— Mark Warner HQ (@MarkWarnerVA) March 3, 2026

The Trump administration has NOT been able to show there was any imminent threat to Americans before they got us into this war of choice. pic.twitter.com/Vzor8S5UC3

— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) March 3, 2026

Warner points out the hypocrisy of Trump spending billions on a war of choice while Americans struggle to afford health care and go hungry. 

Trump has cut funding for Medicaid, ACA tax credits, school lunches, kids cancer research, energy projects, education, and more.

But he found the money for another deadly forever war.

He’s risking the lives of American troops instead of providing for your needs.

— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) March 3, 2026

Kaine gave an emotional floor speech in opposition to Trump’s going to war without approval from Congress. “I can’t believe that this nation is like itching for another war in the Middle East,” Kaine said. “Haven’t we learned something from a quarter of century of war in the Middle East?”

Last week, I spoke on the floor about how, after seeing the heartbreak and sacrifice of VA military families during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I vowed that I’d do all I could to stop an unnecessary war if I ever had the chance. That time is now. Here’s what I’m doing: pic.twitter.com/FJElhQhyE4

— Senator Tim Kaine (@SenTimKaine) March 3, 2026

Republican US Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia’s 2nd congressional district said Trump’s war in Iran that included a strike against a school in Iran resulting in the deaths of about 180 young children is making the world safer. 

Every day, America’s military shows the world what strength and resolve look like as we confront the terrorist stronghold of Iran. Our men and women in uniform are protecting freedom and keeping our nation secure. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice.
🇺🇸 PEACE THROUGH… pic.twitter.com/pbORlteenX

— Jen Kiggans (@JenKiggans) March 3, 2026