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Public disputes concerning political parties, public officials, institutions, political conduct, and governance in the United States.
Counts show individual statements. They do not assign an overall position.
6 statements on this page. Dates: January 9, 2026 to September 28, 2026
6 matching statements. Dates: January 9, 2026 to September 28, 2026
6 published statements. Dates: January 9, 2026 to September 28, 2026
5 published statements. Dates: February 28, 2026 to September 28, 2026
5 statements on this page. Dates: February 28, 2026 to September 28, 2026
Role at the time: U.S. senator from Oregon and co-lead of the bill
Statement summary
Merkley criticized Lee's objection to his request for immediate passage of the memorial-protection bill.
“a colleague objected to this common-sense bill”
Press release on Sen. Merkley's official website, dated September 28, 2026. It gives his statement after Sen. Mike Lee blocked his request to pass the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act by unanimous consent.
Merkley described the objection as unfortunate and the blocked bill as common-sense. His response rejects Lee's floor action.
Role at the time: U.S. senator from Oregon and ranking member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee
Statement summary
Sen. Jeff Merkley said in a statement that President Trump, without authorization from Congress, is trying to tear down the Kennedy Center because the law says Trump cannot put his name on the building. He made the statement after Sen. Mike Lee blocked his bill with Sen. Lisa Murkowski to bar the demolition of presidential memorials without an act of Congress.
“Perhaps the greatest living memorial for a president is the Kennedy Center, in honor of our slain president who championed the arts. But now President Trump—without authorization from Congress—is trying to tear it down. First, he destroyed its programming, and now, he wants to destroy the building itself. All because the law says Trump can’t put his name on the building.”
Press release on Sen. Merkley's official website, dated September 28, 2026. It gives his statement after Sen. Mike Lee blocked his request to pass the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act by unanimous consent.
The case asks whether Trump should link the Kennedy Center's renovation and future to recognition for his administration. Merkley said Trump is trying to tear the building down without authorization from Congress because the law bars Trump from putting his name on it, and said the threats are "straight out of the authoritarian playbook." That criticizes the link between recognition and the building's fate, so we labeled it Condemned.
Role at the time: U.S. Senator, Oregon
Statement summary
Jeff Merkley voted yea on H.Con.Res. 89, a vote to direct the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran.
“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 89: A concurrent resolution directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
Official Senate roll call on H.Con.Res. 89, a concurrent resolution directing the President under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. Rejected 49-50 on September 24, 2026. Fetterman was the only Democratic nay; Republicans Collins, Murkowski, Paul and Tillis voted yea; Alsobrooks did not vote.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Voted to direct the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran, a vote to end U.S. involvement absent congressional authorization.
Role at the time: U.S. Senator, Oregon
Statement summary
Jeff Merkley voted Yea on H.Con.Res. 86, the Senate resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 86: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
Official Senate roll call on H.Con.Res. 86, directing the President under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. Agreed to 50-48 on June 23, 2026 — the first Iran war powers resolution to pass both chambers. Republicans Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski and Paul voted yea; Fetterman was the only Democratic nay.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)A yea vote supported directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, opposing continued U.S. involvement in the war without congressional authorization.
Role at the time: U.S. Senator for Oregon at the statement date.
Statement summary
Merkley condemns the strikes as wrong and unauthorized and demands congressional control of war powers.
“Donald Trump is not a king. These strikes are wrong and unauthorized.”
He cites Congress’s constitutional authority and the costs of previous wars. He says Iran’s abuses do not justify unilateral presidential war and calls for a Senate vote.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Relative to U.S. military involvement in the 2026 Iran war, Merkley condemns the strikes as wrong and unauthorized and demands congressional control of war powers.
1 published statement. Dates: January 9, 2026
1 statement on this page. Dates: January 9, 2026
Role at the time: U.S. Senator for Oregon
Statement summary
Sen. Jeff Merkley said the administration's account of the Portland shooting used words that echoed those used in Minneapolis, that "we have lost trust in the administration to give us the straight scoop on anything," and that the account may be accurate but there were no videos of what happened at that location.
“Those words, by the way, are just an exact echo of the words that were used in Minneapolis. And we have lost trust in the administration to give us the straight scoop on anything. this story may be absolutely accurate. We don't know. And there are no videos as to what happened at that location.”
KATU News interview with Sen. Jeff Merkley about the January 8, 2026 shooting in Portland, posted on KATU's YouTube channel and aired in its Your Voice, Your Vote program.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)The case asks whether the Border Patrol agent was justified in shooting the two people, and the administration's account is that the driver weaponized his vehicle. In this passage Merkley did not say the shooting was wrong or right. He said the account echoed words used in Minneapolis, that "we have lost trust in the administration to give us the straight scoop on anything," and that the account may be accurate but there were no videos of what happened. He disputes the reliability of the government's description without reaching a conclusion, so we labeled it Challenged the characterization.
