GOP Leaders Defend Trump’s Iran Strike as Legal and Necessary

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) defended former President Donald Trump’s recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, stating the action did not require prior congressional approval. While critics argue the strikes violated the Constitution, Johnson maintained Trump had the legal authority under existing national security statutes. “The President made the right call,” Johnson posted on X, citing urgent threats that required immediate action. He added that the limited and targeted nature of the strikes aligned with precedent set by presidents of both parties. The administration has described the operation as a defensive response rather than an act of war, emphasizing its limited scope.

Multiple top Republican lawmakers voiced strong support for Trump’s decision. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) condemned Iran’s ongoing hostility and emphasized the need to stop its nuclear ambitions. Senate Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) called a nuclear-armed Iran the “greatest threat” to global security. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a longtime critic of Tehran, pointed to Iran’s decades-long record of attacking U.S. interests and said the U.S. must prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) stated that the strike supported both American and Israeli national security goals and helped prevent a wider conflict. He stressed that this was not the start of a “forever war,” but a successful and necessary strike that delivered a clear deterrent message to Iran.