House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) prioritized work over chatting with Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday.
“Tell him I’ll call him back,” she said after receiving a note that Pence was on the phone during a closed-door meeting with the Democratic caucus.
She mentioned needing to open the House for a session before receiving another note about Iran’s attack on bases housing U.S. troops.
She told members to “pray.”
According to her deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, Pelosi called Pence back four minutes after she finished the required presiding over the House at 6:34 p.m.
During the call, Pelosi was briefed on the retaliatory missile attack.
Iran had vowed revenge after President Donald Trump ordered the targeted killing of a top Iranian general. There have been no reported deaths of either Americans or Iraqis, as the U.S. received advanced notice of the missile launches.
Pelosi tweeted less than an hour after speaking with Pence that she was “closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq.”
“We must ensure the safety of our servicemembers, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence,” she wrote. “America & world cannot afford war.”
Trump clarified in a tweet Tuesday night that Iran fired ballistic missiles, not bombs, on the military bases.
“All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq,” the president wrote. “Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far!”
Trump has not indicated that he would respond to the attack with additional force, but said Wednesday during a statement that he would impose harsh economic sanctions on Iran.
