Key Democratic lawmakers were reportedly kept entirely in the dark regarding “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the Trump administration’s precision strike on Iranian nuclear sites, until after U.S. forces had left Iranian airspace. The Saturday operation, a massive B-2 bomber strike involving over 125 aircraft and 75 precision weapons on Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, was carried out without congressional approval, sparking widespread condemnation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President Vance defended the strikes as a limited, targeted effort against nuclear weaponization, not a broader conflict or regime change.
Rubio explained on “Face The Nation” that the strike aimed to “degrade and/or destroy three nuclear sites related to their nuclear weaponization ambitions.” Vance, on “Meet The Press,” cited the President’s “clear authority” to prevent WMD proliferation, assuring that this engagement would be decisive.
However, the lack of congressional consultation has drawn sharp criticism. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, co-author of a bipartisan War Powers Resolution, lambasted the administration on “Face The Nation,” arguing that “no imminent threat to the United States” existed to justify bypassing Congress. He criticized lawmakers for not addressing the issue before the strike.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, quickly voiced his support for Trump on X, stating that “leaders in Congress were aware of the urgency” and the “imminent danger outweighed the time it would take for Congress to act.” He also maintained Trump’s respect for Congress’s Article I powers. Nevertheless, top Democrats, who were reportedly not briefed until after the operation, labeled the strike illegal. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) warned on CBS of increased risks for American troops and asserted that the scale of the attack constituted “hostilities” requiring congressional approval. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) agreed, emphasizing the absence of an “imminent threat” to justify the heightened danger to U.S. forces.