Latest news with #HouseIntelligenceCommittee
3 hours ago
- Politics
Top House Intel Democrat says it's ‘too early to tell' impact of Iran strikes
Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said it was still too soon to know the status of the Iranian nuclear program in the aftermath of a series of U.S. attacks against Iran. Calling the strikes by American bombers a 'massive gamble' on the part of President Donald Trump, Himes noted that the impact of the attack was still being assessed. 'It's way too early to tell what the actual effect on the nuclear program is. And, of course, it's way too early to tell how this plays out, right? I mean, we've seen this movie before,' Himes told ABC News' 'This Week' co-anchor Jonathan Karl. 'If you look at the history of our military involvements in the region, they almost never end with the best-case scenario. In fact, they usually end in something approximating the worst-case scenario,' he added. Himes also said that he was 'disturbed' by the fact that the strikes were undertaken without the approval of Congress, which holds the sole authority to declare war. 'There's not much ambiguity in the Constitution about who gets to approve these things,' Himes said.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Grossly unconstitutional': Democrats slam Donald Trump after US strikes on Iran; some call for impeachment
US President Donald Trump is facing a wave of outrage from angry Democrats, with several calling for his impeachment following his decision to bomb Iran's top nuclear facilities. Lawmakers from the left denounced the strikes as unconstitutional and a dangerous overreach of presidential power, reports the New York Post. 'The President's disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorisation is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,' said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). 'He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.' The strikes took place on Saturday, targeting Iran's Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities. Trump later confirmed that American aircraft had safely returned from the mission. 'Now is the time for peace,' he said, calling the operation a success. But the reaction from Capitol Hill was swift and fierce. Critics across the political spectrum condemned the move, with many pointing out the lack of Congressional approval. Thomas Massie, known for occasionally breaking ranks with Trump, said, 'This is not Constitutional.' Jim Himes, a top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, voiced anger over not being informed in advance. 'According to the Constitution, we are both sworn to defend, my attention to this matter comes BEFORE bombs fall. Full stop,' he posted on X. House Speaker Mike Johnson and some Republican leaders were briefed ahead of time, reports the Post. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticised the lack of transparency. 'Trump administration bears the heavy burden of explaining to the American people why this military action was undertaken,' he said, adding that 'Congress must be fully and immediately briefed in a classified setting.' Senator Bernie Sanders called the action 'grossly unconstitutional,' while Sean Casten labelled it an 'unambiguous impeachable offence.' However, not all lawmakers opposed the move. Some praised Trump's decision. 'Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities,' said Senator John Fetterman. 'This was the correct move.' Republican senator Lindsey Graham said: 'Good. This was the right call. The regime deserves it. Well done." New York Representative Mike Lawler also called it the 'right decision.' 'War has not been declared, however, a Nuclear Iran has been prevented. I fully support the President's decision," Lawler said.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congressional leaders react to Trump ordering strike attack on Iran
Congressional leaders expressed surprise Saturday night about President Donald Trump's announcement he had ordered a U.S. attacked on three Iranian nuclear sites, with some Republicans praising the move and some Democrats questioning the president's authority. South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, an Israel hawk, said in an X post moments after Trump announced the attack that it was "the right call." "The regime deserves it. Well done, President @realDonaldTrump," he said. "To my fellow citizens: We have the best Air Force in the world. It makes me so proud." MORE: Israel-Iran live updates: Trump announces attack on Iranian nuclear sites Rep. Rick Crawford, an Arizona Republican, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that he was in touch with the president before the attack and still monitoring the situation. "As I have said multiple times recently, I regret that Iran has brought the world to this point. That said, I am thankful President Trump understood that the red line -- articulated by Presidents of both parties for decades -- was real," he said. One Republican in the House, however, questioned the president's power in the strike without Congress. "This is not constitutional," Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky, posted MORE: US hits 3 Iranian nuclear sites, Trump says, plunging America into conflict Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, posted on X, "According to the Constitution we are both sworn to defend, my attention to this matter comes BEFORE bombs fall. Full stop." "We need to immediately return to DC and vote on @RepThomasMassie and my War Powers Resolution to prevent America from being dragged into another endless Middle East war," Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said in an X post. House Speaker Mike Johnson was briefed ahead of the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, according to a source familiar with the matter. Johnson was supposed to be in Israel Sunday to address the Knesset, but the trip was scrapped because of the ongoing conflict. The speaker also put out a statement endorsing the strikes, calling it a "decisive" action that prevents terrorism. Senate Majority Leader John Thune was also briefed ahead of the U.S. strikes on Iran, according to two sources familiar with the conversation. GOP Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming posted, "President @realDonaldTrump's decision to strike Iran's nuclear program is the right one. The greatest threat to the safety of the United States and the world is Iran with a nuclear weapon. God Bless our troops 🇺🇸" Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn posted, "President Trump made the courageous and correct decision to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat. God Bless the USA. Thank you to our extraordinary military and our indomitable @POTUS This is what leadership on the world stage looks like." Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman said on X, "As I've long maintained, this was the correct move by @POTUS. Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities. I'm grateful for and salute the finest military in the world. 🇺🇸" This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
16 hours ago
- Politics
Congressional leaders react to Trump ordering strike attack on Iran
Congressional leaders expressed surprise Saturday night about President Donald Trump's announcement he had ordered a U.S. attacked on three Iranian nuclear sites, with some Republicans praising the move and some Democrats questioning the president's authority. South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, an Israel hawk, said in an X post moments after Trump announced the attack that it was "the right call." "The regime deserves it. Well done, President @realDonaldTrump," he said. "To my fellow citizens: We have the best Air Force in the world. It makes me so proud." Rep. Rick Crawford, an Arizona Republican, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that he was in touch with the president before the attack and still monitoring the situation. "As I have said multiple times recently, I regret that Iran has brought the world to this point. That said, I am thankful President Trump understood that the red line -- articulated by Presidents of both parties for decades -- was real," he said. One Republican in the House, however, questioned the president's power in the strike without Congress. "This is not constitutional," Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky, posted Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, posted on X, "According to the Constitution we are both sworn to defend, my attention to this matter comes BEFORE bombs fall. Full stop." "We need to immediately return to DC and vote on @RepThomasMassie and my War Powers Resolution to prevent America from being dragged into another endless Middle East war," Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said in an X post. House Speaker Mike Johnson was briefed ahead of the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, according to a source familiar with the matter. Johnson was supposed to be in Israel Sunday to address the Knesset, but the trip was scrapped because of the ongoing conflict. The speaker also put out a statement endorsing the strikes, calling it a "decisive" action that prevents terrorism. Senate Majority Leader John Thune was also briefed ahead of the U.S. strikes on Iran, according to two sources familiar with the conversation. GOP Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming posted, "President @realDonaldTrump's decision to strike Iran's nuclear program is the right one. The greatest threat to the safety of the United States and the world is Iran with a nuclear Bless our troops 🇺🇸" Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn posted, "President Trump made the courageous and correct decision to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat. God Bless the USA. Thank you to our extraordinary military and our indomitable @POTUS This is what leadership on the world stage looks like." Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman said on X, "As I've long maintained, this was the correct move by @POTUS. Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities. I'm grateful for and salute the finest military in the world. 🇺🇸"
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First Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
How Iran conflict has exposed Trump-Gabbard differences
The Iran-Israel conflict has exposed a growing rift in the White House. On the one hand, you have US President Donald Trump – who has claimed that he is his own best advisor – and on the other you have Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence. But what happened? How are the two divided? read more The Iran-Israel conflict has exposed a growing rift in the White House. On the one hand you have US President Donald Trump – who has claimed that he is his own best advisor. And on the other you have Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence. But what happened? How are the two divided? Let's take a closer look: What happened? As the war between Iran and Israel escalated , Trump on Tuesday rushed back to America from the G7 Summit being held in Canada. Trump claimed that Iran was 'very close to having a nuclear weapon'. Read Israel Iran conflict live updates STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Iran cannot have nuclear weapon,' he added. He also took to social media to call on the citizens of Tehran to leave the city. 'I just want people to be safe," he added, telling reporters he wanted a 'real end' to the conflict, rather than merely a 'ceasefire.' Trump also demanded an 'unconditional surrender' from Iran. Trump's remarks put him in in line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assessment that Iran was set to acquire a nuclear weapon 'imminently' and that Israel's very survival was at stake. 'If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time', Netanyahu said. 'It could be a year. It could be within a few months'. However, Western agencies including that of the United States have contradicted this assessment. Gabbard, testifying at a House Intelligence Committee hearing in March, said as much. Tulsi Gabbard at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority Conference in Washington, D.C., on June 21. (Photo: Reuters) The US intelligence community ' continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme leader Khomeini has not authorised the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003', Gabbard said. 'We continue to monitor closely if Tehran decides to reauthorise its nuclear weapons program'. Confronted with Gabbard's remarks while flying back, Trump was dismissive. 'I don't care what she said,' the US President said. 'I think they were very close to having one.' Gabbard tried to do damage control, saying that Trump 'was saying the same thing that I said in my annual threat assessment back in March. Unfortunately too many people in the media don't care to actually read what I said'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A senior White House official claimed the two weren't really split. 'There's a distinction. Just because they don't have one does not mean that they don't want to build one,' the official said. A spokeswoman for Gabbard said she was 'on the same page' as Trump and blamed 'too many people in the media' for misinterpreting her remarks. The White House is also trying to tamp down on the issue. White House spokesperson Steven Cheung claimed the president 'has full confidence in his entire exceptional national security team' and insisted that 'efforts by the legacy media to sow internal division are a distraction that will not work.' Vice President JD Vance also claimed that she was 'an essential member' of team Trump. 'Tulsi Gabbard is a veteran, a patriot, a loyal supporter of President Trump, and a critical part of the coalition he built in 2024,' Vance said in a statement. Not on the same page But Gabbard and Trump clearly aren't on the same page – and haven't been for a while. Gabbard took to social media on June 10 to write that the 'political elite and warmongers' are 'carelessly fomenting fear and tensions between nuclear powers' — and that the world is 'on the brink of nuclear annihilation.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The video, which was widely circulated in the White House, seemingly incensed Trump. So much so that he even mused about doing away with the position of Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard has long been a sceptic of US intervention in West Asia and of the intelligence agencies she now heads – precisely why Trump appointed her to the job. Iranian flag flutters in the wind. Image used for representative purpose/AFP Trump himself has spoken out against being against US interventions around the world and has signalled that he wants to pursue a far more isolationist agenda. The Trump-Gabbard divide also speaks to a wider briefed in the Maga world. 'Why was Gabbard not invited to the Camp David meeting all day?' asked Steve Bannon, the chief of the Maga isolationist wing, wondered about the high-level meeting Trump held with his cabinet on Sunday. 'You know why … This is a regime change effort,' Carlson responded. It remains to be seen if Gabbard remains in her post if the US goes to war with Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
