Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky is a prominent dissenting voice within his party, challenging the Trump administration’s justification for its precision strike on Iranian nuclear sites by asserting there was “no imminent threat to the United States” that would authorize the action without congressional approval. The strike, “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a massive B-2 bomber operation on Saturday, hit Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President Vance defended the action as a limited, targeted effort against nuclear weaponization, Massie argues it was an overreach.
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, 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, 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.
“No Imminent Threat”: Massie Challenges Trump’s Iran Strike Justification
