Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego slammed the State Department's notice urging U.S. citizens to leave over a dozen countries in the Middle East as the war in Iran rages on.
Gallego made reference to a social media publication from journalist Gregg Carlstrom, the Middle Eastern correspondent for The Economist, who noted that the agency "waited until day three of the war to tell Americans to immediately leave via 'commercial transportation' from several countries where the airports are closed."
"Also... Egypt? How wild do they think this is gonna get? A mix of panicky messaging and incompetence" Carlstrom added.
The @StateDept waited until day three of the war to tell Americans to immediately leave via "commercial transportation" from several countries where the airports are closed
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) March 3, 2026
Also... Egypt? How wild do they think this is gonna get?
A mix of panicky messaging and incompetence https://t.co/Tzdf9qYyj5
Gallego reacted with a post of his own, calling it "inexcusable and incompetent." "This administration clearly has no plan and it's putting US lives at risk."
Inexcusable and incompetent. This administration clearly has no plan and it’s putting US lives at risk. https://t.co/yArW3VfV5V
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) March 3, 2026
The senator has been a fierce critic of the war, taking aim at President Donald Trump on a personal level, even recalling that he received draft deferments during the Vietnam War.
"Draft dodger is willing to sacrifice working class kids. How charitable of him," Gallego said in a social media publication on Saturday.
Trump, however, has dismissed all criticism and vowed to continue the attacks. He said on Monday that the U.S. "probably" doesn't need to send ground troops into Iran, but won't rule out the possibility.
Speaking to the New York Post on Monday, Trump said he doesn't "have the yips with respect to boots on the ground." "Every president says, 'There will be no boots on the ground.' I don't say it," he added.
Trump also anticipated an escalation of the ongoing operation in the country. Speaking on CNN, network journalist Jake Tapper said he spoke with Trump and mentioned to him that the situation was "not safe," to which the president noted that it would deteriorate.
"It is going to get even less safe. We haven't even started to hit them hard. The big wave hasn't happened yet. The big one is coming soon," Trump said, according to Tapper.
Trump had also told NBC News that he expected casualties from the war to rise, but "in the end it's going to be a great deal for the world."
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