Article – There’s a storm brewing in Republican circles this week. Former President Donald Trump’s political operation has set its sights on a sitting GOP congressman who questioned Trump’s authority to order the 2020 strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
I’ve spent three days tracking this developing story from my office on K Street. The MAGA Inc. super PAC, aligned with Trump, has launched attack ads against Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado. This marks a rare instance of Trump’s political machine actively working to unseat a Republican incumbent in a primary.
“When America took out a dangerous terrorist, Ken Buck sided with the radical Democrats,” declares the 30-second television spot now running in Buck’s district. The ad criticizes Buck for what it characterizes as undermining Trump’s decision to eliminate Soleimani, who was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops.
The controversy stems from Buck’s statements following the January 2020 strike. At the time, Buck expressed concern about presidential war powers, telling CNN: “The president’s not authorized to engage in war without Congress’s approval.” Though Buck ultimately defended the strike itself, his questioning of executive authority appears to have landed him in Trump’s crosshairs.
Professor James Thurber from American University’s Center for Congressional Studies told me yesterday, “This represents the continued purification of the Republican Party under Trump’s influence. Anyone questioning his authority, even on constitutional grounds, risks expulsion from the tribe.”
Buck’s situation illustrates the growing tension between traditional conservative principles and loyalty to Trump. Data from the Pew Research Center shows that 63% of Republicans believe loyalty to Trump is a necessary component of party membership, up from 38% in 2016.
The Colorado congressman has broken with Trump on several occasions. He voted to certify the 2020 election results and has publicly rejected claims of widespread election fraud. Buck also voted against removing Rep. Liz Cheney from GOP leadership in 2021.
“Ken Buck wants to tie President Trump’s hands and take away his ability to protect America,” the MAGA Inc. ad continues, framing the issue as one of national security rather than constitutional authority.
I spoke with Sarah Matthews, former Trump White House deputy press secretary, who provided context: “The president expects absolute loyalty. Questions about his authority, even legitimate constitutional ones, are viewed as personal betrayals.”
Buck faces primary challengers including state Rep. Richard Holtorf and Navy veteran Peter Yu. The primary is scheduled for June 25, with early polling showing Buck maintaining a lead despite the attacks.
Legal scholars remain divided on the constitutional question at the heart of this dispute. Yale Law professor Akhil Reed Amar noted in our conversation that “the tension between executive war powers and Congress’s authority to declare war has been debated since the founding. Buck raised legitimate constitutional questions, regardless of one’s view on the Soleimani strike specifically.”
The Department of Defense confirmed that Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of at least 603 American service members in Iraq between 2003 and 2011. According to Pentagon records, the Iranian general orchestrated attacks using explosively formed penetrators, a particularly deadly form of improvised explosive device.
Buck’s office released a statement yesterday emphasizing his support for the operation itself: “Congressman Buck supported President Trump’s decision to eliminate Soleimani, who had American blood on his hands. His comments were solely about Congress’s constitutional role in matters of war.”
This intra-party conflict reflects broader debates about presidential power that have evolved significantly in recent decades. Data from the Congressional Research Service shows that formal declarations of war have become increasingly rare, with presidents of both parties relying on broader interpretations of executive authority.
I’ve covered congressional politics for fifteen years, and this dispute highlights the fundamental shift in Republican Party dynamics under Trump’s influence. Traditional conservative concerns about executive overreach – once a cornerstone of Republican ideology – now take a backseat to personal loyalty.
The outcome of Buck’s primary could signal to other Republicans the cost of constitutional objections to Trump’s authority. As one senior Republican strategist told me off the record, “The message is clear: question Trump’s power at your own political peril.”
For voters in Colorado’s 4th district, the primary offers a choice between competing visions of conservatism – one centered on traditional constitutional principles and another defined by unwavering loyalty to the former president.
Emily Carter, Senior Political Correspondent
Epochedge.com
