President Trump Speaks on Iran

It’s hard to believe, but it’s already Day 3 of Operation Epic Fury, and the war against Iran appears to be yielding strong results for the United States and Israel. President Donald Trump is determined to ensure that the people of Iran are free, and the Iranian regime is decimated to ensure it poses zero nuclear threat to us or our Middle Eastern allies.

President Trump offered a statement on Operation Epic Fury at this morning’s Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House, as reported by Fox News:

President Donald Trump Monday said the United States and Israel’s joint military operation against Iran was “our last, best chance to strike” to “eliminate the intolerable threats” posed by Tehran.

The United States and Israel launched the operation against Iran Saturday known as Operation Epic Fury. The attacks left major Iranian leaders dead, including its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The U.S. will continue the operation with “ferocious, unyielding resolve,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. already has sunk 10 of Iran’s naval vessels in addition to eliminating 49 of its top leaders.

Trump warned against Iranian retaliation, saying that if Iran were to “hit very hard,” it would be met with “a force that has never been seen before.”

During a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House Monday, the president touted his success in combating the threats posed by Iran —during both his second administration and his first.

“I was very proud to have knocked out the Iran nuclear deal by President Barack Hussein Obama,” Trump said. “That was a horrible, horrible, dangerous document. They would have had nuclear weapons three years ago.”

The president said that Iran, “for almost 47 years” has been “attacking the United States and killing Americans.”

We told you on Friday that it seemed clear that military action was just around the corner, but we didn’t realize how close it was. Just hours after we signed off, what had been simmering in the Middle East for decades exploded into a full-scale war with Iran.

Of course, there was immediate pushback from the Left. The usual suspects, such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), decried this military action as unjust. No surprises there, especially from the antisemitic Tlaib, who openly opines for the destruction of Israel and said she gets a “calming feeling” by thinking about the Holocaust.

But it’s worth noting that there has also been grumbling from some conservatives who are wary of anything that even smells like another Middle East war. And that is totally fair. Nobody in their right mind wants another prolonged war where most people aren’t entirely clear on what victory would look like.

But one thing is clear: The Ayatollah was a bad guy who killed thousands of innocent people and imprisoned more. We don’t even need to get into the treatment of women under his rule – and quite frankly, it could take a week if we did. But pause and ask yourself whether your objection is about policy, about human rights, or even about the safety of our troops – or is just about opposing any and everything President Trump does?

Because this isn’t a new war. Iran started this war with the U.S. in 1979 with the Iranian Revolution. It has continued through the hostage crisis and through the deadly attacks on U.S. Marines in Beirut. The Iranian regime has killed Americans through proxy militias and roadside bombs, while chanting “Death to America” for nearly 50 years. There’s an argument to be made that President Trump isn’t starting a war; rather, he’s finally ending one.

And as for the popular narrative coming out of the Left that “Trump needed Congress” to approve this action, I’d advise reading the fine print. Under the War Powers Resolution, a President can initiate military action and has 48 hours to notify Congress. Then there is a 60-day window before further authorization is required.

Every modern President has operated under that framework, including President Obama in Libya. It’s fine to disagree with the established policy. But don’t pretend this mechanism is new and hasn’t been used by your own side when it suited your needs.

The bottom line is that if anyone wants to claim Trump is using the American military to fight Israel’s war, remember Iran has always called us the “Great Satan.” Israel is merely the “Little Satan.” The regime has never hidden its priorities. This Iranian regime has identified itself as a threat to the U.S. time and time again.

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included more analysis of Operation Epic Fury, where things stand as far as advances and losses, and what we may expect in the coming days. We were also joined by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who offered his unique insight into this situation, having been directly involved with Iran under President Trump’s first Administration. And we talked to ACLJ Senior Counsel Jeff Ballabon, head of ACLJ Jerusalem, for more information on the situation in Israel.

Watch the full broadcast below: