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Mixed reactions are continuing to pour in from Capitol Hill after President Trump authorized a series of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities yesterday.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, yesterday, President Trump authorized a coordinated US military operation targeting three major Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to statements from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine, the strikes were executed using a combination of air and naval assets. These sites have long been at the center of Iran’s nuclear program, and US officials claim the operation delivered significant damage to Iran’s critical nuclear infrastructure.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, some lawmakers are coming out with conflicting accounts regarding whether Congress was adequately briefed on the US strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) claimed that the administration complied with the War Powers Resolution, stating, “They were supposed to notify congressional leaders within 48 hours. They were well within that range… so the law has been complied with.“
Reports indicate that key Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), were among those briefed following the strike. However, there is no indication that Democratic leaders received prior notice. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) criticized the lack of inclusion, demanding that “Congress must be fully and immediately briefed in a classified setting.” He went on to accuse the president of bypassing legislative oversight, calling the move a “failure to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force.”
The absence of bipartisan briefing has fueled frustration among Democrats. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said, “The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”
To the contrary, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) strongly defended President Trump’s decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites, calling it a bold and necessary move. In an interview on ABC News, Cotton said, “There’s no doubt that, because of the president’s decisive action, we have severely damaged Iran’s critical nuclear infrastructure.” Cotton emphasized that for decades, American presidents have vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but “finally, President Trump has taken decisive action to ensure that they’re not going to get nuclear weapons on his watch.”
