Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) outright called President Trump’s latest threats against Iran “war crimes” if they were actually carried out, as reported by The Hill. He took to X, stating, “Trump is calling reporters today to tell them he is going to commit mass war crimes next week.” Murphy urged GOP leaders to intervene, emphasizing that destroying bridges and power plants and killing innocent Iranians wouldn’t resolve the situation with the Strait of Hormuz and would clearly constitute a war crime.
President Trump had made his intentions startlingly clear on his Truth Social platform. He wrote, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F—in’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.” This aggressive stance comes as Iran’s restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continue to drive up energy prices globally, including in the U.S., where the average price of a gallon of regular gas hit $4.11 on Sunday.
This isn’t the first time President Trump has focused his anger on the Strait of Hormuz. It’s a critical waterway for the oil industry, and it has been effectively closed since the conflict started in late February. The president had already threatened to rain “all hell” down on Iran, as the U.S. approached a self-imposed Monday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait. He posted on Truth Social, “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”
Murphy further elaborated on his concerns regarding President Trump’s targeting of Iranian infrastructure
Murphy noted on X that the president “isn’t even pretending to choose military targets” and seems willing to “kill tens of thousands of civilians in order to cause a national panic.” This willingness to target non-military sites is a major point of contention. Since the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on February 28, more than 1,600 civilians in the Middle Eastern country, including at least 244 children, have been tragically killed as of Sunday, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
The president’s threat also follows a U.S. military strike against Iran’s largest bridge last Thursday. The B1 bridge in north-central Iran reportedly took two hits, and President Trump even shared video footage of the aftermath. A U.S. defense official confirmed that the bridge was struck by U.S. forces, explaining it was done for “eliminating a planned military supply route for sustaining Iran’s ballistic missile and attack drone force.”
The Connecticut Democrat continued his strong criticism, stating, “He says he’s going to destroy ALL Iranian bridges and power plants. Ok, he’s probably lying. But even blowing up a fraction will kill thousands of innocent people who work in those power plants and travel on the nation’s roads. That’s also a war crime.”
Murphy found the entire situation to be “pure insanity,” questioning the rationale behind such actions. He pointed out, “And for what? To force Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz WHICH WAS OPEN BEFORE TRUMP STARTED BOMBING IRAN??? This is pure insanity. It won’t work. It will just permanently stain America.” He concluded his remarks by urging, “GOP leaders should call Congress back into session this week to end this war.”
Other Democratic lawmakers quickly joined in to sharply criticize President Trump’s threats against Iran. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) expressed his dismay on X, noting that as millions of Americans “head off to church and celebrate with friends and family” for Easter, President Trump was “ranting like an unhinged madman” online. Schumer added, “He’s threatening possible war crimes and alienating allies. This is who he is, but this is not who we are. Our country deserves so much better.”
Published: Apr 6, 2026 02:45 pm