President Trump addresses the nation, alongside Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the White House on Saturday, following the announcement that the U.S. bombed nuclear sites in Iran.
Carlos Barria/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
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Carlos Barria/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Following a significant military decision by the United States, the Pentagon is set to provide further details on Sunday about the recent airstrikes on Iran. This action marks President Trump’s initial direct involvement in the rising tensions between Israel and Iran. For more context, read about the events leading to this strike here.
In a bold move, the U.S. targeted three nuclear facilities, which President Trump hailed as a “spectacular military success.” He asserted from the White House, “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”
Scheduled for 8 a.m. ET, Gen. Dan Cain, along with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, will address the media to provide insights into the military operation.
President Trump’s decision has received mixed reactions from U.S. political leaders. While Republican leaders have expressed their support, praising the decisive military action, Democratic leaders have raised concerns. They argue that the President bypassed constitutional protocols by not seeking congressional approval, potentially endangering American forces overseas.
According to an anonymous U.S. official, senior Democratic leaders were informed of the strike shortly before Trump’s announcement on social media. The Army Ops Center also communicated with senior Army leaders around that time. While details about when Republican leaders were briefed remain unclear, sources confirm that Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson were given prior notice.
In a statement, Johnson emphasized, “The President gave Iran’s leader every opportunity to make a deal, but Iran refused to commit to a nuclear disarmament agreement. President Trump has been consistent and clear that a nuclear-armed Iran will not be tolerated. That posture has now been enforced with strength, precision, and clarity.”
However, Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner voiced his concerns, highlighting that President Trump’s actions could potentially lead to another conflict. “The American people deserve more than vague rhetoric and unilateral decisions that could set off a wider war,” Warner stated. “The president must come before Congress immediately to articulate clear strategic objectives and lay out how he plans to protect American lives and ensure we are not once again drawn into a costly, unnecessary, and avoidable conflict.”
In his announcement on Truth Social, President Trump called for peace, but also warned Iran against retaliatory measures.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
