WASHINGTON–Sen. Edward Markey waltzed into a commerce committee meeting on Tuesday with an unconventional proposal – an amendment to restrict a sitting president’s ability to threaten the annihilation of an entire civilization.
“I recognize this type of amendment is not typically within the jurisdiction of the Senate Commerce committee, but when the president makes appalling threats against 90 million people, this committee should not act as if it’s business as usual,” said Markey, the junior Democratic senator from Massachusetts.
The request comes after President Donald Trump threatened to “wipe out a whole civilization” in a social media threat against Iran last week.
“This rhetoric is not strength or leadership,” Markey said in the meeting. “It is an anti-American statement that betrays our values and undermines the moral standing of the United States.”
The committee was in the middle of discussing the SAFEGUARDS Act of 2025 – a bill that would require revenue from 9/11 passenger security fees to be used only for purposes related to airport security. That’s when Markey addressed Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to propose the last-minute amendment.
As disengaged committee members scrolled on their phones, Markey urged everyone to join his amendment and, at a bare minimum, condemn President Trump’s threat.
“Every member of Congress … has a moral obligation to reject this unconscionable rhetoric,” Markey said. “If we fail to speak up against rhetoric that casually evokes the annihilation of tens of millions of civilians, then we are abandoning the very principles we claim to defend.”
Cruz shook his head in disagreement.
“Well, for 47 years, the Ayatollah has screamed ‘Death to America’ and has led mobs chanting ‘Death to America,’” Cruz said.
The air in the room was tense as Cruz refuted Markey’s proposal.
“Iran has killed nearly 1,000 Americans,” Cruz said. “So, I’m grateful the president as commander in chief is standing up to the theocratic regime that has been murdering Americans for nearly 50 years.”
The amendment failed. The vote was 16-12 against Markey’s proposal.
After the rejection, the committee unanimously voted to recommend the SAFEGUARDS Act to the full Senate without Markey’s newly proposed amendment.
As Cruz made his final statements on the bill, Markey interrupted, asking that his vote be recorded as “no” on the full bill.
He then walked out of the meeting and did not return.