Additional Coverage:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that Congress was not briefed on the strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities until after the operations were complete.
During a Sunday morning press briefing, the former television personality and Trump ally fielded questions about the unexpected military action. When pressed by a reporter about Congressional notification, Hegseth hesitated before stating that lawmakers were informed “after the planes were safely out,” adding, “uh, we complied with the notification requirements of the War Powers Act.” He later reiterated that notification was given “immediately thereafter.”
The strikes have drawn sharp criticism from both sides of the aisle, with some alleging the President acted unconstitutionally. Rep.
Thomas Massie (R-KY), a frequent critic of U.S. involvement in the Israeli-Iranian conflict, immediately took to X, formerly Twitter, declaring the strikes “not Constitutional.” Massie has been a key figure in pushing for a bipartisan war powers resolution to limit American military intervention in the Middle East.
Other lawmakers expressed more cautious concern. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) tweeted, “While President Trump’s decision may prove just, it’s hard to conceive a rationale that’s Constitutional.”
Even staunch Trump supporter Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the president’s decision to side with Israel, posting on X, “Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war.” She also asserted, “There would not be bombs falling on the people of Israel if Netanyahu had not dropped bombs on the people of Iran first.”
The strikes seemingly contradict the President’s statement last Thursday, read by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, indicating he would take two weeks to decide on U.S. involvement. At that time, Trump said he would make his decision based on “a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future.”
Trump confirmed his collaboration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, thanking him for his support. Netanyahu, appearing on Fox News, expressed his gratitude, saying, “Tonight, President Trump and the U.S. acted with a lot of strength.
President Trump, I thank you. The people of Israel thank you.”
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, speaking to Iranian state-affiliated media, condemned the strikes as “an act of aggression by the terrorist American regime” and asserted Iran’s right to self-defense, including “options that go beyond the delusional calculations of the aggressor coalition.” While the nature of these options remains unclear, the threat was evident. The statement continued, “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is well-versed in the realities of this full-scale hybrid war and will never be intimidated by the noise of Trump or the criminal gangs ruling Washington and Tel Aviv.”