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Recent presidents have repeatedly ordered military attacks on other countries despite questions over whether congressional approval was needed.

The latest was Republican Donald Trump’s June 21 bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities. His administration said he had authority to limit nuclear proliferation.

Trump in 2017 cited national security interests for a missile strike on a Syrian base that was used to launch chemical weapon attacks on Syrian civilians. 

In 2021, Democrat Joe Biden ordered an airstrike on Iran-backed militia groups in Syria, citing “self-defense.” 

In 2011, Democrat Barack Obama ordered “limited” airstrikes on Libya. He said he was trying to protect pro-democracy protesters targeted by Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi. 

The Constitution says only Congress has the power to declare war.

But that provision “has never been interpreted — by either Congress or the executive branch — to require congressional authorization for every military action that the president could initiate,” a Council on Foreign Relations legal expert wrote.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

• Council on Foreign Relations: Does Trump Have the Authority to Strike Iran?
• New York Times: Is the U.S. at War With Iran?
• Associated Press: US inserts itself into Israel’s war with Iran, striking 3 Iranian nuclear sites
• NPR: Trump administration defends Iranian strikes as some lawmakers question its legality
• CBS News: How Trump was able to order U.S. strikes on Syria without congressional approval
• DOD News: Trump Orders Missile Attack in Retaliation for Syrian Chemical Strikes
• Politico: Democrats renew push for war powers overhaul after Biden’s Syria strike
• CNN: Biden sends letter to congressional leadership explaining justification for Syria strike
• Politico: Obama approves airstrikes against Libya, March 19, 2011
• U.S. Justice Department: Authority to Use Military Force in Libya
• National Constitution Center: Does the president need Congress to approve military actions in Iran?
• National Constitution Center: U.S. Constitution Section 1

Have recent presidents of both parties ordered military attacks without congressional approval like Donald Trump did in Iran? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine discusses the mission details of a strike on Iran during a news conference at the Pentagon on June 22, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.  (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Israel and Iran reached a truce in their 12-day-old war Monday, President Donald Trump said on social media.

The ceasefire will go into effect at midnight Eastern, he said.

“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE … for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!” Trump wrote. “Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL.

“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR,’” he continued. “This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will!”

Neither Israel nor Iran immediately confirmed the agreement to cease hostilities, but Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi tweeted about three hours after Trump’s post that the country’s military had stopped fighting.

“The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am,” he wrote. “Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute.”

There was no confirmation from Israel by late Monday Eastern time.

Trump’s announcement came just hours after Iran fired missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar in retaliation for weekend strikes on nuclear facilities. The missiles were shot down without causing any casualties, Trump wrote.

Iran alerted U.S. leaders before the strike, Trump said, in an apparent effort to minimize casualties — a signal of de-escalation that Trump appeared ready to accept.

“Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered,” Trump wrote Monday afternoon. “There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free,’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done.

“Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE. I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Iran’s counterattack had been anticipated.

“This is the retaliation that was expected,” the Louisiana Republican told reporters in the Capitol, in a video posted to social media by CNN. “So far, so good. No casualties.”

No briefings in advance for Dems

Despite Trump’s description of the “obliteration” of Iranian nuclear facilities, it was unclear Monday how damaged the country’s nuclear program was following the U.S. bombing of three major nuclear enrichment facilities on Saturday, U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said at a Monday press conference.

The New York Democrat said he had not been briefed by the administration ahead of the operation, receiving only a “courtesy call” from the White House that strikes were imminent.

A classified briefing with the so-called Gang of Eight — the Republican and Democratic floor leaders and top members of the Intelligence Committee in each chamber of Congress — is scheduled for Tuesday, he said.

“We’ve seen no evidence to justify (the administration’s) offensive strike in Iran, and we also don’t even know how effective the strike has been,” Jeffries said. “There’s zero evidence that I’ve seen that the nuclear program was completely and totally obliterated, as Donald Trump has claimed, no evidence that has been presented to Congress to suggest that that has occurred. Let’s see what happens at the classified briefing tomorrow.”

Jeffries strongly opposed Trump’s intervention in the war between Iran and Israel without first gaining support of Congress.

But he sidestepped questions about whether the decision was an impeachable offense or if he would support a bipartisan resolution to restrain the president’s power to wage war in Iran.

“The use of military force which is offensive in nature must be approved by the House and the Senate,” he said. “That’s according to the Constitution. It’s not optional, Donald.”

War powers resolution

Jeffries said he had “not taken a look at” the resolution sponsored by Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie and California Democrat Ro Khanna. Due to rules changes under the House GOP majority, consideration of the resolution cannot be forced immediately, he said.

Massie said Monday the resolution had 57 cosponsors in the House.

Johnson said he would not support the resolution.

“I don’t think it’s an appropriate time for a war powers resolution,” Johnson said. “And I don’t think it’s necessary.”

New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and other members of Jeffries’ caucus have suggested impeaching Trump over his use of military force without approval from Congress.

Asked if Democrats would pursue impeachment if they win back the majority in the 2026 mid-term elections, Jeffries indicated that would not be his first step.

“A tool that’s on the table right now is to continue to demand that the administration present itself before the United States Congress and make a case to the American people as to why this extraordinary step has been taken,” he said. “That’s step one. Step two is for the war powers resolution to be debated on the House floor, as should have occurred already, and then we’ll see where we’re at thereafter.” 

The war between Israel and Iran started over a week ago as the country launched a surprise attack on Tehran’s nuclear program as well as military officials and scientists. Iran has reportedly responded with over 400 missiles and hundreds of drones.

This weekend, the United States entered the fray and Iran hit back by attacking the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Despite seeming like a significant escalation, it’s been billed as a measured response as the country reportedly warned the United States ahead of the attack.

More: Korea To Ban Fully Charged EVs From Parking Garages After Massive EQE Blaze

What happens next is on everyone’s mind and Israel appears to be bracing for a drawn out conflict that will see more Iranian missiles land in their territory. In order to prepare for this possibility, the country’s Administration of Shipping and Ports has reportedly “ordered car importers to prepare to evacuate all electric vehicles from Israeli seaports.”

The Maritime Executive reports authorities want electric vehicles out of key ports such as Haifa and Ashdod. The belief is that these vehicles would be transported to empty parking lots, away from critical infrastructure.

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The Port of Haifa says nearly 20 million tons of cargo pass through the port each year, making it the busiest in all of Israel. This makes it an attractive target and authorities are reportedly worried about an Iranian missile landing in the port and hitting electric vehicles. EV fires are notoriously hard to extinguish and this could be a huge problem if row upon row of vehicles went up in flames following a missile strike.

While that would be a worst case scenario, it appears to be on the minds of Israeli officials. Of course, it’s hard to say how things will pan out at this point.

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A B-2 Stealth Bomber performs a fly over before the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 5, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

This report has been updated.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Saturday night that the United States has attacked three nuclear sites in Iran, and all U.S. planes were outside Iran and on their way back to the United States.

“A short time ago the U.S. military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump said in brief televised remarks from the White House just after 10 p.m. Eastern.

“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror,” he said. “Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”

Flanked by Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump said he hoped the strikes would be the extent of the U.S. offensive in Iran, but he warned he would authorize attacks on other targets if Iran did not end the war.

“Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,” he said. “If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”

Trump had first announced the strikes roughly two hours earlier on social media.

“All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he wrote.

Several U.S. House Democrats questioned the legality of the bombing.

“President Trump has no constitutional authority to take us to war with Iran without authorization from Congress, and Congress has not authorized it,” Don Beyer, a House Democrat from Virginia, wrote on X.

Earlier Saturday, there had been numerous reports that B-2 bombers had been sent from Whiteman Air Force Base in Johnson County, Missouri, and were flying across the Pacific Ocean. Department of Defense leaders said at a Sunday morning press conference that those bombers were decoys, “a deception effort known only to an extremely small number of planners and key leaders here in Washington and in Tampa,” said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine. “The main strike package comprised of 7 B-2 spirit bombers, each with two crew members, proceeded quietly to the east with minimal communications. “

Trump returned to the White House at about 6 p.m. Eastern on Saturday from his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., to attend a national security meeting at the White House.

The attack on the Iran sites supports a key U.S. ally, Israel, while distancing another foreign policy priority for the Trump administration, a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear development.

“I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump said at the White House, referring to the Israeli prime minister.

Trump has repeatedly said Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

GOP backs Trump

Republican lawmakers in national security roles quickly weighed in on social media and in statements Saturday to support Trump’s decision.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said in a statement: “The regime in Iran, which has committed itself to bringing ‘death to America’ and wiping Israel off the map, has rejected all diplomatic pathways to peace. The mullahs’ misguided pursuit of nuclear weapons must be stopped. As we take action tonight to ensure a nuclear weapon remains out of reach for Iran, I stand with President Trump and pray for the American troops and personnel in harm’s way.”

“Our commander-in-chief has made a deliberate—and correct—decision to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian regime,” U.S. Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., wrote on X. “We now have very serious choices ahead to provide security for our citizens and our allies and stability for the middle-east. Well-done to our military personnel. You’re the best!”

House Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford, an Arkansas Republican, blamed Iran for the conflict.

“As I have said multiple times recently, I regret that Iran has brought the world to this point,” he wrote on X. “That said, I am thankful President Trump understood that the red line—articulated by Presidents of both parties for decades—was real. The United States and our allies, including Israel, are making it clear that the world would never accept Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon.”

Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee who is not always aligned with Trump, also praised the move.

“Thank you to our brave service members who executed this mission,” he said. “The world will be safer if Iran’s nuclear capability is destroyed. I look forward to briefings in the coming days.”

Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian who is often at odds with his party leadership, expressed his opposition in a Saturday night social media post.

“This is not Constitutional,” he wrote.

Democrats react

Immediate reaction from Democrats was mixed.

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman called the move “the correct decision,” adding that “Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities.”

But members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus raised the issue of congressional authorization and called for a vote on a privileged resolution sponsored by California Democrat Ro Khanna and Massie that would block military force against Iran.

“Donald Trump illegally took military action against Iran—without congressional authorization—risking dragging us into another endless war,” Arizona Democrat Yassamin Ansari wrote. “I am calling for an immediate emergency session of Congress to vote on the War Powers Resolution.”

“Instead of listening to the American people, Trump is listening to War Criminal Netanyahu, who lied about Iraq and is lying once again about Iran,” Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib wrote. “Congress must act immediately to exert its war powers and stop this unconstitutional act of war.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, was sharply critical.

“Donald Trump promised to bring peace to the Middle East. He has failed to deliver on that promise. The risk of war has now dramatically increased, and I pray for the safety of our troops in the region who have been put in harm’s way,” Jeffries said in a statement.

“President Trump misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East.”

He said Congress must immediately be briefed in a classified setting.

Warning from Iran

Israel began bombing what it said were Iranian nuclear facilities last week, scuttling U.S. negotiations with Iran, which Trump repeated again Wednesday had been close.

In a statement issued through a spokesman on state-run TV Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the U.S. not to get involved.

“Any form of U.S. military intervention will undoubtedly be met with irreparable harm,” the statement said, according to a BBC translation.

Prior to the announcement, congressional Republicans were generally supportive of an aggressive posture toward Iran.

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, told reporters at the Capitol that Iran’s nuclear program was meant to threaten the United States.

“When the Ayatollah chants ‘Death to America,’ I believe him,” Cruz said, referring to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “So does President Trump, and that’s why, as commander-in chief, he is acting decisively to keep America safe.”

The potential of a nuclear Iran has animated U.S. policy debates about the region for more than a decade.

In his first term, Trump withdrew from a deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama’s administration that lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limiting its nuclear development.

Iran and Hamas

Iran and Israel have not had diplomatic relations since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and each has been a primary antagonist in the other’s foreign policy.

Israel has long prioritized denying Iran a nuclear weapon. Iran has funded Hamas, the militant group that launched the October 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, and Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst raised Iran’s support for Hamas at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week, using it as a rationale for U.S. involvement in the region.

“Who is the primary funder of Hamas?” the Iowa Republican asked Hegseth.

Hegseth answered Iran.

“Forty-three Americans lost their lives on Oct. 7 at the hands of Hamas,” Ernst continued. “So when there is a question about whether it’s appropriate for America to be engaged in the Middle East, in defending Americans that live and work abroad, I think there’s our answer.”

Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report.