00:00Why was it worth targeting Iran's nuclear facilities now that they have retaliated against U.S. interests overseas and there's a risk of a regional war?
00:10The president warned them not to retaliate, but he was also very clear that the threat of Iran obtaining nuclear capability is a threat not just to Israel and the Middle East, but to the United States as well.
00:22They've been very clear about their intentions and how much they hate us.
00:25Remember that Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism. All the proxies that have done such great harm to Americans over the years are at their behest.
00:34They were working on that and the president made an evaluation that the danger was imminent enough to take his authority as commander-in-chief and make that.
00:43Mr. Speaker, in the past couple of months, we've had several strikes on soil here.
00:48We've had so many strikes here on U.S. soil, attacks against Jews in Boulder and here in Washington, D.C., Governor Shapiro.
00:54Do you think that this threat is so serious now, just now that having Semitic attacks here,
01:01but there's a grave concern about somebody being triggered doing something here in the United States in response to what happened?
01:07Well, we've been in a heightened threat scenario for quite some time, and it's something that we're very vigilant about,
01:13as is law enforcement throughout the country and, of course, our federal agencies.
01:15We get briefings on this routinely, and we know where the threats are and the assessments, but it's a heightened period, of course.
01:23Members are concerned about that, as you know.
01:24Some of our Jewish members in particular have been targeted, even in recent days, by crazed people.
01:32We're going to prosecute those folks to the full extent of the law,
01:35and we're going to do everything we can within our power to make sure members are safe and free to do their jobs.
01:41There's a number of resources available for protection in that regard,
01:45and we're researching other avenues to make sure everyone who serves the public can do so in a safe manner.
01:51Why not have Congress vote on Iran? Why not have, just given that you're the imminence of this threat?
01:55So, look, there's been so much talk ranging from AOC suggesting this is an impeachable offense,
02:02which is just absolute nonsense, to people suggesting that Congress should dither over this.
02:07Look, the Commander-in-Chief has Article II responsibilities.
02:10They're very serious and important, especially in times like this.
02:13I think he used that authority judiciously.
02:16I think this Commander-in-Chief means what he says, says what he means,
02:20and he's trying to protect American assets and personnel.
02:23We had 40,000 servicemen, men and women over there in that region,
02:28and they were in imminent danger, as was our allies in Israel, and as were we.
02:33Remember, the international body that is supposed to be monitoring Iran's nuclear program
02:38determined in May that they were days away from having capability.
02:42Will you allow Massey's War Powers Resolution to come to the floor?
02:46I don't think this is an appropriate time for a War Powers Resolution, and I don't think it's necessary.
02:51Listen, for 80 years, presidents of both parties have acted with the same Commander-in-Chief authority under Article II.
02:58You had President Biden used it three times in Middle East operations.
03:02President Obama went on an eight-month campaign bombing Libya to take down the regime there.
03:09I never heard a Democrat balk about any of that.
03:11And suddenly now, they're just up in arms.
03:13It's all politics.
03:14This is not a time for politics.
03:17This is a very serious...
03:18Do you think we're going to change in Iran?
03:20...at U.S. Bates in Qatar and Iraq, reportedly?
03:26Should the U.S. respond to those attacks?
03:29We're monitoring that very closely.
03:31I got a classified briefing on all this early this morning.
03:33This is the retaliation that was expected.
03:37So far, so good.
03:38No casualties, so far as we know.
03:40And I know that the National Security Team is in the Situation Room, even as we speak, and they're monitoring this.
03:46Do you think it's symbolic?
03:47Is that your...
03:48I'm not going to comment on it, because I don't want to affect any of these events.
03:52Do you think the President should respond?
03:54Should the President respond to this?
03:55It's up to the Commander-in-Chief.
03:56I mean, he sent a very clear message that they should not.
03:59He wanted them...
04:00He wanted Iran to come back to the negotiating table in good faith.
04:03The problem is they weren't there in the first place.
04:05Big, beautiful building.
04:06We're here until they finish in the Senate.
04:09I mean, it looks like they might not get to this until the end of next week, over the weekend.
04:12That means you guys...
04:13I'm withholding my judgment until I get that final product, but I'm working with individual senators, leadership, and our own members to keep the train on the tracks.
