The Trump administration is vigorously defending its recent precision strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, an operation dubbed “Midnight Hammer,” which was executed without prior congressional approval or notification to leading Democratic lawmakers. Officials characterize the Saturday attack, involving over 125 aircraft and 75 precision-guided weapons targeting Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, as a limited measure to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities, not an act of war or a push for regime change. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on “Face The Nation” that the goal was to “degrade and/or destroy three nuclear sites related to their nuclear weaponization ambitions.”
Vice President Vance echoed this sentiment on “Meet The Press,” asserting that the U.S. is “at war with Iran’s nuclear program,” not Iran itself. He cited the President’s “clear authority” to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, assuring a weary American public that this would not be a prolonged engagement. Despite these assurances, some lawmakers, including Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, are questioning the legality, arguing there was no “imminent threat” to justify bypassing Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, supported the President’s actions, stating on X that “leaders in Congress were aware of the urgency” and that the “imminent danger outweighed the time it would take for Congress to act.” He maintained that Trump “fully respects the Article I power of Congress,” drawing parallels to past military actions.
Conversely, top Democrats were reportedly not informed until after the U.S. forces had exited Iranian airspace, fueling accusations of illegal conduct. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) criticized Trump’s decision on CBS, warning of increased risk to American troops in the region and asserting that such a significant military action undoubtedly constitutes “hostilities” requiring congressional authorization under the War Powers Act. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) shared this concern, emphasizing that the “clear and imminent threat” threshold for unilateral presidential action was not met. This incident further highlights the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to expand executive power over war-making and appropriations.