The Trump administration’s unilateral precision strike on Iranian nuclear sites has galvanized support for a bipartisan War Powers Resolution, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle question the legality of “Operation Midnight Hammer.” The Saturday attack, the largest B-2 bomber strike in U.S. history, saw 75 precision weapons hit Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, carried out without congressional approval. Administration officials defend the action as a limited, targeted effort against nuclear weaponization, not an act of war against Iran or its people.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on “Face The Nation” that the strike was “designed to degrade and/or destroy three nuclear sites related to their nuclear weaponization ambitions.” Vice President Vance, on “Meet The Press,” reiterated the President’s “clear authority” to prevent WMD proliferation, promising a swift and effective outcome.
However, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, co-author of the bipartisan War Powers Resolution with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, strongly disagreed with the administration’s actions. On “Face The Nation,” he argued there was “no imminent threat to the United States” that would bypass Congress’s constitutional role, criticizing lawmakers for not returning to debate the resolution.
Despite Massie’s isolated stance among Republicans, House Speaker Mike Johnson quickly backed Trump, stating on X 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 suggested Trump respects Article I powers. Yet, top Democrats, reportedly kept in the dark until after the mission, are calling the strike illegal. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) warned on CBS of elevated risks for American troops and stressed that such a significant military action unquestionably constitutes “hostilities” requiring congressional authorization. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) concurred, emphasizing the lack of an “imminent threat” to justify the increased danger to U.S. forces.