House

Mace ‘concerned about escalation’ in Iran war

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by Ryan Mancini - 04/03/26 5:08 PM ET

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by Ryan Mancini - 04/03/26 5:08 PM ET

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Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said Friday she is very “concerned about escalation” in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, joining a chorus of lawmakers raising the alarm of a potential ground attack.

Mace told CNN’s Kate Bolduan she has been “very vocal” about this concern after she expressed her thoughts and prayers to two U.S. crew members aboard an F-15 fighter jet that was shot down over Iran.

“If there’s going to be conventional troops on the ground, a mainland invasion, for example — this is a different phase of the war or conflict that we would be entering into, and Congress needs to be briefed. Congress needs to have a say.”

Mace raised the historical points of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s declaration of war request following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and former President George W. Bush’s request for an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) in 2001 following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

“I was against invading Iraq, but Bush still came to Congress to get an AUMF,” Mace said. “And so I think that we need to be very clear, if there are going to be troops on the ground, that‘s different.”

The South Carolina Republican said it was also different if the U.S. conducted “specialized raids” compared to the operation that killed former al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May 2011.

“I’m concerned about loss of life and casualties and casualty projections, potentially, for ground troops, et cetera,” she continued. “And Congress should be briefed on that before any action is taken.”

The Iranian attack on the F-15 fighter jet was the first U.S. warplane confirmed shot down in the five-week conflict. One of the two crew members has since been found.

President Trump has said he does not intend to use ground troops in the Iran war, though he has weighed launching operations to either extract Iran’s enriched uranium or take over its main crude oil depot Kharg Island. Both would require boots on the ground.

The president escalated his threats against Iran following his warning to Iran in a national address Wednesday, when he said the U.S. will “bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.” This rhetoric has continued in the days since amid his administration’s calls for a deal to end the conflict.

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