Scalise Discusses Potential for Troops in Iran Amid Ongoing Conflict

House Majority Leader says 'a lot of conversations' happening about next steps, but won't speculate on ground troops.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 1:52am

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A dynamic, abstract painting composed of overlapping, fragmented shapes and lines in shades of blue, gray, and red, conveying a sense of movement and conflict related to the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran.As tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran, the possibility of an expanded military conflict looms, raising concerns about the administration's strategy and objectives.Washington Today

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise appeared on ABC News' 'This Week' and discussed the ongoing conflict with Iran, including the possibility of American ground troops being deployed. Scalise did not rule out the potential for ground troops, saying 'there are no boots on the ground today, but we're having a lot of conversations about what could happen next.' However, he declined to speculate on whether there would be widespread Republican support for such a move.

Why it matters

The war with Iran has now lasted over a month, and there are growing concerns from some congressional Republicans about the potential for the conflict to escalate further, including the possibility of ground troops being sent. Scalise's comments highlight the ongoing debate and uncertainty within the Republican party about the administration's strategy and objectives in the region.

The details

Scalise told ABC News' Jonathan Karl that 'a nuclear-armed Iran is not an option that any of us want,' but would not directly answer whether Trump would need to seek congressional authorization for ground troops. Scalise said the president has already briefed congressional leadership, though some Democrats like Sen. Chris Van Hollen argue the briefings have not been substantive enough. Van Hollen called the war an 'illegal war of choice' that is 'making us less, not more safe' and said Congress should not allocate more funding for it.

  • The war with Iran has now surpassed a month of fighting.

The players

Steve Scalise

House Majority Leader, Republican from Louisiana.

Donald Trump

President of the United States.

John Kennedy

Republican Senator from Louisiana.

Chris Van Hollen

Democratic Senator from Maryland and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister of Israel.

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What they’re saying

“There are no boots on the ground today, but we're having a lot of conversations about what could happen next.”

— Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader

“The president has already come to Congress. They've let all of the congressional leadership know in advance of the strikes, but they've also had briefings on Capitol Hill.”

— Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader

“We should not keep funding an illegal war of choice that's making us less safe.”

— Chris Van Hollen, Senator

What’s next

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The takeaway

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