U.S. President Donald Trump is facing ongoing debate in Congress regarding the president's military authority after launching airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Evaluations of the Trump administration's attacks on Iran are mixed across party lines.
On the 22nd (local time), the United States conducted surprise airstrikes on three key nuclear facilities in Iran (Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan) under the operation name 'Midnight Hammer'. Major foreign media reported that President Trump did not obtain permission from Congress, which has the constitutional authority to declare war, before ordering the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Democrats, the opposition party, claim that President Trump has committed illegal acts regarding his 'bypassing Congress.' According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 23rd, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic lawmakers argued that the Trump administration did not conduct secret intelligence briefings, which have been conventionally held with Congress regarding the Iran attack operation.
Democratic lawmakers stated, 'The use of military force of an aggressive nature must receive approval from both the House and the Senate,' adding that '(the request for congressional approval) is not optional.' They also noted that the Trump administration has not provided evidence to justify the reason for the Iran attack, namely the 'immediate threat to the United States.'
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat-New Hampshire) and Senator Chris Coons (Democrat-Delaware) stated in a joint statement on the 23rd, 'Currently, Congress has not received any official intelligence briefings from the administration and is unable to provide information on Americans who have been in danger for 10 days.'
A bill clarifying Congress's approval authority over military operations is already being pushed primarily by Democrats. Senator Tim Kaine (Democrat-Virginia) has proposed a bill requiring an official vote from Congress before the Trump administration takes military action against Iran. Representatives Thomas Massie (Republican-Kentucky) and Ro Khanna (Democrat-California) have also introduced similar bills.
Republican lawmakers argue that the attack was justified based on instances where the president has conducted military operations without congressional approval. Notable examples include then-President Barack Obama's order for U.S. involvement in Libya's civil war without congressional approval in 2011, and Trump’s order for the removal of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, in 2020. No president has faced legal consequences for these actions.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated on the same day, 'The president exercised his authority as commander in chief under Article II of the Constitution,' noting, 'The Iran issue is very serious and important, and I believe the president has exercised his constitutional authority carefully in such times.' Article II of the U.S. Constitution designates the president as commander in chief. He also referred to the bipartisan war powers resolution in Congress as 'entirely political' and stated that he has no intention of allowing a vote.
Some Democratic lawmakers also reacted positively to the attacks on Iran. Senator John Fetterman (Democrat-Pennsylvania) said in an interview with Fox News that he thinks the attack was 'entirely appropriate,' noting, 'It was a very limited military engagement, and because it inflicted serious damage on them, there is no constitutional issue.'
NYT reported, 'President Trump’s decision to carry out military strikes against Iran without congressional approval and with minimal consultation has deepened divisions in Congress and intensified conflicts within both parties,' adding, 'A fierce debate has been sparked over the extent of congressional authority regarding the military’s role and the use of U.S. military forces.'