President Trump Announces Military Strike on Iranian Nuclear Sites

At around 8 p.m. ET Saturday, President Donald Trump posted a startling update on social media, revealing that the U.S. military had launched an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He stated, “A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow,” and added, “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

The announcement caught not only the public by surprise but also members of Congress, who were informed of the strike simultaneously. Traditionally, U.S. presidents are expected to consult Congress before deploying military force, a position President Trump had previously supported during his 2015 presidential campaign, emphasizing that presidents should always seek congressional approval for military actions.

“I think we should always get authorization, and if something is right, you can get authorization quickly,” Trump said, reflecting on Article 1 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power to declare war.

The 1973 War Powers Resolution provides some guidelines, requiring presidents to notify Congress within 48 hours of military action and to conclude hostilities within 60 days unless authorized otherwise. Many Democrats have raised concerns over the legality of Trump’s unilateral strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, noting the administration had not received new intelligence indicating Iran was actively developing nuclear weapons since March.

The Trump administration plans to brief Congress with high-level officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in the coming days. Rubio has historically stressed the importance of congressional oversight in military decisions, stating that while the strategy is a military matter, Congress’s role in authorization remains critical.