The sheer destructive power of “Operation Midnight Hammer” is evident in the 75 precision-guided weapons dropped on Iranian nuclear sites, a detail that underscores the significance of the Trump administration’s strike carried out without congressional approval. The Saturday operation, the largest B-2 bomber strike in U.S. history, hit Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Administration officials defended the action as a limited, targeted engagement to disrupt Iranian nuclear capabilities, not a broader conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on “Face The Nation” that the objective was to “degrade and/or destroy three nuclear sites related to their nuclear weaponization ambitions,” explicitly denying it was a “regime change move.” Vice President Vance on “Meet The Press” reiterated that the U.S. was “at war with Iran’s nuclear program,” not Iran, and cited the President’s authority to prevent WMD proliferation, promising a swift resolution.
However, the unilateral nature of the strike has sparked sharp criticism from some lawmakers. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, co-author of a bipartisan War Powers Resolution, argued on “Face The Nation” that “no imminent threat to the United States” existed to justify bypassing congressional debate. He expressed disappointment in Congress’s inaction.
Despite Massie’s isolated dissent within his party, House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly backed Trump, asserting 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 maintained that Trump respects Congress’s Article I powers. Nevertheless, top Democrats, reportedly kept in the dark 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.
