Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., stated on Friday that it is “shocking” that Democrats are refusing to support President Donald Trump’s efforts to help free the Iranian people from Tehran’s repressive regime.
Malliotakis, speaking in an appearance on a national news program, criticized Democrats for prioritizing opposition to Trump over backing a strategy she described as critical to U.S. national security.
“They’re undermining the president,” she said of Democrats’ attempts to limit Trump’s war powers.
Malliotakis emphasized that President Trump’s objective is to eliminate a serious threat posed by Iran, which has long fueled violence across the Middle East. She pointed to Iran’s support for terrorist proxy groups and its history of targeting Americans.
“Iran has funded proxies, whether it be Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis,” Malliotakis said. “They have attacked our military bases. They have killed American citizens. They are a major threat.”
She also noted that despite U.S. military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in June, Iran’s nuclear activity remains dangerous.
“With this nuclear enrichment that they’re doing with uranium, they continue to be a threat,” Malliotakis added. “But President Trump has now slowed that down and really is looking to end it completely, and that is what this operation is all about.”
Malliotakis accused Democrats of using “every tool in the toolbox” to block or deter Trump’s actions, despite former Democratic presidents taking military action without similar backlash.
“Where were the Democrats when President [Barack] Obama was in Libya conducting these type of attacks for seven months?” Malliotakis said. “[Former President] Bill Clinton also exceeded the 60 days without going to Congress.”
Malliotakis said Trump is applying pressure on all fronts with Iran, utilizing economic, diplomatic, and military leverage.
“The president has three leverage points — economic, diplomatic, and military — and he’s using them, I think, in a very thoughtful way,” she stated.
She warned that diplomacy with Tehran is difficult due to lack of trust but added that Trump is “in a much stronger position because they have significantly weakened Iran.”
Malliotakis also criticized Democrats for failing to condemn the regime’s conduct, including what she described as using civilians to shield infrastructure.
“The Democrats don’t say anything about it,” Malliotakis said. “In fact, it’s shocking really that they are not supporting an effort to free the Iranian people and, more importantly, put America’s national security first.”
By Alex Chen, April 10, 2026
