US President Donald Trump and senior officials in his administration have reaffirmed that the recent American strikes on Iran were carried out on his authority, following remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that suggested Washington acted ahead of a planned Israeli move.
Rubio’s comments drew criticism from Democrats, who argue that only Congress has the constitutional power to declare war, and from parts of Trump’s MAGA support base after he disclosed that US officials were aware Israel was preparing for military action.
“We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action,” Rubio said Monday. “We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t pre-emptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.”
His statement fueled speculation that the United States had been pulled into the conflict by Israel rather than acting independently.
The White House swiftly rejected that narrative. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed claims that Trump had been pressured into authorizing the strikes.
During an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Trump stressed that the decision was based on US intelligence assessments and stalled nuclear negotiations with Tehran.
“Based on the way the negotiation was going, I think they (Iran) were going to attack first. And I didn’t want that to happen,” Trump said. “So, if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand.”
The operation represents one of the sharpest escalations in tensions between Washington and Tehran in recent years. Relations between the two countries have long been strained, particularly over Iran’s nuclear program and its backing of regional proxy groups. Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has consistently pushed for a tougher approach toward Iran, citing security concerns over its missile and nuclear activities.
After briefing lawmakers, Rubio maintained that the action was unavoidable. “The president made a decision. The decision he made was that Iran was not going to be allowed to hide behind this ability to conduct an attack,” he said.
However, critics argue that varying explanations from the administration have created uncertainty and raised constitutional questions, with some members of Congress claiming they were not adequately consulted before the strikes.
As the US heads toward pivotal midterm elections that could shift control of Congress, the political implications remain significant.
Senator Tom Cotton defended the president on Fox & Friends, stating, “No one pushes or drags Donald Trump anywhere. He acts in the vital national security interest of the United States.”
Meanwhile, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene voiced concern on X, noting growing divisions within the country between supporters of foreign military intervention and those advocating a stronger focus on domestic economic priorities.
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