logo
The Trump administration briefed top Republicans on Iran strikes, but kept Democrats in the dark

The Trump administration briefed top Republicans on Iran strikes, but kept Democrats in the dark

CNN22-06-2025
President Donald Trump and his team were in contact with top congressional Republicans before his strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, but top Democrats were not told of his plans until after the bombs had dropped, according to multiple people familiar with the plans.
The top two Republicans in Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, were both notified of the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities ahead of time, according to multiple GOP sources.
But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries received notifications shortly before the public announcement – and after the attack itself, people familiar with the notifications said. Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrats on the Senate and House intelligence committees, were similarly not told until after the strikes had occurred, sources said.
Reaction to the strikes has so far broken along predictable partisan lines.
Republicans in Congress overwhelmingly lined up behind the president after the surprise strikes as most Democrats swiftly condemned his decision to launch them without congressional approval and demanded classified briefings.
Johnson and Thune both made clear within minutes that they would stand by Trump, followed by dozens of GOP lawmakers who posted their support.
'Leaders in Congress were aware of the urgency of this situation and the Commander-in-Chief evaluated that the imminent danger outweighed the time it would take for Congress to act,' Johnson wrote on X, defending Trump's decision to move unilaterally. 'The President fully respects the Article I power of Congress, and tonight's necessary, limited, and targeted strike follows the history and tradition of similar military actions under presidents of both parties.'
As of Saturday night, only three GOP lawmakers were publicly skeptical of Trump's move — including one, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who was already expected to force a full vote in the House next week on whether to restrict Trump's war powers.
The president's airstrikes on Saturday night will now supercharge an already-tense debate in Congress over the limits of his war powers, with both the House and Senate expected to take votes in the coming days.
Warner railed on the Trump administration's decision to strike Iran, 'without consulting Congress, without a clear strategy, without regard to the consistent conclusions of the intelligence community, and without explaining to the American people what's at stake.'
'The American people deserve more than vague rhetoric and unilateral decisions that could set off a wider war. 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,' Warner said.
His fellow Virginia Democrat, Sen. Tim Kaine, confirmed that he still plans to force a full Senate vote asserting Congress' role, after initially introducing the resolution last week requiring Trump to seek congressional approval before any strikes on Iran.
'I will push for all Senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war,' Kaine said in a statement, adding that the American public remains opposed to US involvement in the conflict.
Massie, the Kentucky Republican who is leading the push in the House, said simply in response to Trump's airstrikes announcement: 'This is not Constitutional.'
Democrats are also likely to press the White House on its decision not to inform their top officials until after the strike was carried out.
Democrats on the Gang of Eight typically would be briefed before a significant US military engagement. A White House official said the administration made calls to some members of Congress prior to the strikes as a 'courtesy heads up' but did not address the partisan breakdown of who was notified.
In the aftermath of the strike, many Democrats released statements criticizing Trump for going ahead with the strikes without congressional approval, with Illinois Rep. Sean Casten calling it an 'impeachable offense.'
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont declared the action 'grossly unconstitutional,' while Jeffries warned that US troops in the region could face retaliation from Iran as he demanded immediate classified briefings for lawmakers.
'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,' the New York Democrat said. '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.'
As of Saturday night, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was the sole congressional Democrat to praise the strikes, posting 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.'
While most House and Senate Republicans were quick to support the strikes as the 'right decision' or the 'correct move,' a small number of House conservatives warned that the strikes required congressional approval.
Rep. Warren Davidson, an ex-Army ranger who has previously accused Congress of having 'seemingly surrendered its power over war' post 9-11, raised questions about Trump's authorities.
'While President Trump's decision may prove just, it's hard to conceive a rationale that's Constitutional. I look forward to his remarks tonight,' the Ohio Republican wrote on X.
Before Trump announced the strikes, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also warned against striking Iran in a post on X. 'Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war. There would not be bombs falling on the people of Israel if Netanyahu had not dropped bombs on the people of Iran first. Israel is a nuclear armed nation. This is not our fight. Peace is the answer,' the Georgia Republican wrote.
After the strikes, she added, 'Let us join together and pray for the safety of our U.S. troops and Americans in the Middle East. Let us pray that we are not attacked by terrorists on our homeland after our border was open for the past 4 years and over 2 Million gotaways came in.'
Manu Raju, Lauren Fox, Haley Britzky and Alayna Treene contributed to this report.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

David Letterman Blasts CBS and Skydance on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Cancellation: ‘This Is Pure Cowardice'
David Letterman Blasts CBS and Skydance on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Cancellation: ‘This Is Pure Cowardice'

Yahoo

time21 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

David Letterman Blasts CBS and Skydance on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Cancellation: ‘This Is Pure Cowardice'

David Letterman unloaded on CBS and Skydance on Friday for cancelling 'The Late Show,' which he launched 32 years ago, saying the network had mistreated his successor, Stephen Colbert. In an interview posted to his YouTube channel, Letterman said he does not buy the official explanation that the show was cancelled for financial reasons. More from Variety Stephen Colbert Hails 'South Park' Premiere's Naked Trump as 'Important Message of Hope for Our Times' FCC Chairman Brendan Carr 'Pleased' With Skydance Commitment to Reform CBS Elizabeth Warren on Colbert 'Late Show' Cancellation: Is the Paramount Trump Payoff a Bribe? 'This is pure cowardice,' Letterman said. 'They did not do the correct thing. They did not handle Stephen Colbert — the face of that network — in the way he deserves to have been handled.' Letterman offered his first comments on the cancellation in a Zoom interview with Barbara Gaines, who was executive producer of 'The Late Show' for 15 years. The former late night host brought up Paramount's $16 million payment to settle President Trump's lawsuit over a '60 Minutes' interview, saying the company had 'decided they didn't care about freedom of the press.' Letterman also mocked Skydance Media, soon to be the new owner of Paramount, asking if it is a discount airline and referring to founder David Ellison as 'the Oracle twins.' 'The Ellison twins, the Oracle boys, they don't want any trouble along the lines of freedom of the press or free speech or freedom of expression,' Letterman said. 'They don't want to get their hands dirty. They don't want the government going after them, because that concept of freedom of the press and freedom of speech — that's so old-fashioned.' Imagining a conversation between the 'Ellison twins' and CBS, Letterman suggested that the new owners wanted Colbert ousted to avoid problems with the Trump administration. 'So they say to the CBS people, 'Geez, what about that kid, Stephen Colbert? He's always shooting his mouth off about the administration. We don't want any trouble from that guy,'' Letterman said. 'So the CBS people say, 'Hey, boys, here's what I'm going to do. Not only are we going to get rid of that guy, we're going to get rid of the entire franchise so you don't have to worry about another guy. It's gone, buddy.'' Reports have said that 'The Late Show' was losing $40 million to $50 million a year. But Letterman said he found that to be an unpersuasive excuse. 'Here's what I know. If they were losing this kind of money, you're telling me losing this kind of money happened yesterday?' he said. 'I'll bet they were losing this kind of money a month ago. I'll bet they were losing this kind of money six weeks ago. Or they have never been losing money.' As a late-night host, Letterman often mocked his corporate overlords at NBC and CBS. Colbert succeeded him when he retired in 2015. He said he believes Colbert will be fine. 'For Steven, I love this. He's a martyr,' he said. 'Good for him. And if you listen carefully, you can hear them unfolding chairs at the Hall of Fame for his induction, right?' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples

Ex-ABC Reporter Who Trashed Stephen Miller Shares The Cruel Truth That Got Him Fired
Ex-ABC Reporter Who Trashed Stephen Miller Shares The Cruel Truth That Got Him Fired

Yahoo

time21 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Ex-ABC Reporter Who Trashed Stephen Miller Shares The Cruel Truth That Got Him Fired

Former ABC News reporter Terry Moran isn't letting up on his 'vicious' criticism of Stephen Miller more than a month after his 'world-class hater' post about Donald Trump and his senior White House aide led to his abrupt exit at the network. Moran, in an appearance on ex-MSNBC host Chris Matthews's Substack podcast, referred to old clips of Miller while arguing that he's been 'spitting the same kind of venom and lies' as he has in the Trump administration. In one video, a 17-year-old Miller said that the torture of Iraqis during the Iraq War is the 'way to go' because it's a 'celebration of human life and dignity.' 'The cruelty is the point,' said Moran of Miller. 'He's about power. Trump is his path to power. Trump sees him as essentially putting kind of some intellectual gloss on his own gut instincts and they work together to bludgeon the country with almost a disheartening and depressing level of cruelty and falsehood every day.' He continued, 'I think that's accurate, fair and true. And it got me fired!' Moments earlier, Moran argued that Miller 'clearly sees lying as a way of exerting power,' calling such moves 'deeply wrong' and 'a bludgeoning.' Moran — who has since launched a Substack of his own since his ABC News ouster — has previously defended his June post, saying it was something on his 'heart and mind' at the time. His post — which described Miller as getting 'spiritual nourishment' from his 'hatreds' — led to swift outrage from top White House officials, including Vice President JD Vance. He was subsequently suspended by ABC News, which called the post a 'clear violation' of the network's policies. The network would later announce that his contract would not be renewed. Related... Trump's Body Language During Awkward Exchange With Jerome Powell Spoke Volumes, Experts Say Billy Joel Reveals The Trump Remark That Forced Him To Get Political On Stage MAGA Won't Let Trump Off The Hook For The Epstein Files — And Psychologists Know Why

Exclusive: Lawyer of Grand Prairie councilman charged with assault says viral video doesn't tell the whole story
Exclusive: Lawyer of Grand Prairie councilman charged with assault says viral video doesn't tell the whole story

CBS News

time23 minutes ago

  • CBS News

Exclusive: Lawyer of Grand Prairie councilman charged with assault says viral video doesn't tell the whole story

CBS News Texas is hearing exclusively from the lawyer representing Grand Prairie Councilman Mike Del Bosque. The attorney said the video showing his client allegedly assaulting a man doesn't tell the whole story of what happened that day. Exclusive video released Wednesday is causing controversy in Grand Prairie. It shows Councilman Del Bosque allegedly assaulting a real estate broker in April. Police arrested and charged Del Bosque with misdemeanor assault and criminal mischief. "My response is the video that was shown does not show the events that took place before the altercation in the parking lot, Phillip Linder said. Attorney Phillip Linder represents Del Bosque. The video shows the councilman allegedly punching 60-year-old David Collantes, pushing him to the ground, and breaking his cell phone. It happened outside a medical office building on Carrier Parkway, which was owned by Del Bosque but in the process of being turned over to another owner after a default judgment. "David Collantes entered our client's private property through a back door," Linder said. "It was in a private office, uninvited. The female staff felt threatened, and when asked to leave, he used expletives," said Linder. Linder said Collantes and three other men entered the building and wouldn't leave when asked. "It really shouldn't surprise me how an attorney and politician can really twist the truth tighter than a large German pretzel that you could buy at the state fair," Collantes said. Collantes said Linder's allegations simply aren't true. "The people there that day were myself and another woman. Not two men, another woman and a male, so there's three people," Collantes said. "I never entered his business in the back door." Linder believes Del Bosque was acting in self-defense. "I've been talking with the D.A. She's given me till next Friday to produce our video, our photographs and our statement, which we're working on putting together," Linder said. "What happened was not self-defense, right? Mr. Del Bosque is not law enforcement, and if he believed that there was something wrong, what's the first thing we do? We call 911 and let the police handle it," Collantes said. Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen sent CBS News Texas the following statement: "I am deeply concerned about what occurred, and the discredit the Councilmember's actions have brought to the City. I have directed City staff to place a vote to censure on the agenda for the next City Council meeting. The City Council will have the opportunity to respond accordingly on August 5." "I would ask them to wait for all the facts to come out, but their city council is their city council," Linder said. "I'm surprised it took this long. I mean, this the assault happened April 4th. Mr. Del Bosque was arrested April 10th, and they're getting around to it now almost four months later," Collantes said. Both sides have very different hopes for the future. "I hope that the Dallas County District Attorney will fairly, and I do mean fairly, properly prosecute this case that will start the restoration of my faith in the legal system," Collantes said. "We're hoping the outcome is the case either doesn't get filed or gets dismissed once it is filed," Linder said. "I mean, he was defending his office staff. The what's not shown on the video was that this man was very threatening." Collantes said it was the councilman who was threatening, even to Collantes' wife, who he said came with him to the property. "I cannot protect my wife from Mr. Del Bosque. That's something I have to live with, and that's why I'm not going to give this up," Collantes said. "I'm still working on getting statements from all of the staff. Some of them may have cell phone video and photographs that we're working on getting," Linder said. The August 5th Grand Prairie City Council meeting, where a vote on whether to censure the councilman is expected to happen, will be held at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store