Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has sharply criticized President Donald Trump over his threat to intensify military action in Iran.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Harris accused the president of escalating a conflict without a clear plan. “The President of the United States is threatening to commit war crimes and wipe out an entire civilization — all because he launched a disastrous war of his own making with no strategy for ending it,” she wrote.
She described the remarks as “abhorrent,” adding that Americans do not support such actions. Harris also warned that Trump’s approach could endanger U.S. troops, weaken the country’s global reputation, and worsen economic pressures at home.
“We must stand together to oppose this and reject funding for this illegal war of choice,” she added.
President Donald Trump warned earlier Tuesday that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Tehran failed to meet his administration’s demands by 8 p.m. EDT.
“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” he wrote on Truth Social. “However, now that we have complete and total regime change, where more capable and less radical leadership can emerge, maybe something extraordinarily positive could come of it — who knows?”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, his one-time campaign rival, condemned the remarks as “abhorrent,” adding that “the American people do not support this.”
Harris was among several Democrats who spoke out against the president’s threat on Tuesday.
Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired Navy captain known for his disagreements with Trump on military matters, described the potential operation as “illegal.”
“If those words turn into orders targeting civilian infrastructure without a legitimate military objective, it’s difficult to see how that wouldn’t violate the laws of armed conflict,” Kelly said. “America leads best with strength, discipline, and professionalism.
“Orders that cause unnecessary suffering for civilians would stain both our military and our nation,” he added.
