A nonbinding House resolution reaffirming the U.S. stance that Iran is the “largest state sponsor of terrorism” passed Thursday, and the political reaction quickly followed. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the Democrats who voted against the measure, turning a procedural vote into a broader partisan flashpoint.
The House vote
The resolution, put forward by Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., passed the House 372-53 on Thursday.
All 53 “no” votes came from Democrats. Two Democrats voted present.
Among those who voted against the measure were all the members of the “Squad,” including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.
Leavitt’s message
Leavitt slammed the 53 House Democrats who voted against the resolution during an appearance on Fox News’ “America Reports,” arguing the position is longstanding and broadly shared, including by “nearly every single country on the planet,” particularly in the West.
“This is not just long standing bipartisan policy of the United States, but nearly every single country on the planet, especially Western countries, have agreed with this basic premise. And now in 2026, you have Democrats on Capitol Hill who have been so debilitated by their derangement in their hatred for the man in the Oval Office right now that they cannot even condemn the world's leading state sponsor of terror,” Leavitt said.
She added that the Democrats who voted against the resolution had “lost their minds.”
Key details
The vote itself was not binding, but it drew attention because of how cleanly it split along party lines for those voting no. The resolution passed easily, yet every one of the 53 opposed votes came from Democrats, with two additional Democrats choosing to vote present.
Leavitt’s response put the focus on that dissent, framing it as an inability to “condemn the world's leading state sponsor of terror,” and linking it to Democratic opposition to “the man in the Oval Office right now.”
What to watch
- How the vote is used. Because the measure is nonbinding, the next round of debate is likely to center on messaging and accountability rather than policy changes.
- The 53 Democrats. Leavitt’s criticism targeted the full group of “no” votes, giving Republicans and the White House a specific number and list to reference.
- The present votes. Two Democrats did not vote yes or no, a choice that can draw questions about what they wanted to signal.
For now, the recorded outcome is straightforward: a Mast-backed, nonbinding resolution reaffirming Iran as the “largest state sponsor of terrorism” passed 372-53; all 53 “no” votes were Democrats; two Democrats voted present; and Leavitt responded with sharp criticism during a Fox News appearance.