Rep Josh Gottheimer says Trump didn’t need Congress' approval for Iran strike, cites Clinton and Obama

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Rep Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey broke ranks with his party as he defended President Donald Trump following criticism over his order to carry out the strikes on Iran.

The 79-year-old commander-in-chief's decision has sparked backlash from both sides of the aisle, with many lawmakers accusing him of violating the Constitution by carrying out the strikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear sites without congressional approval.

Republican Rep Thomas Massie of Kentucky stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the strikes were "not Constitutional." Meanwhile, Republican Rep Warren Davidson of Ohio wrote, "It's hard to conceive a rationale that's Constitutional."

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the major MAGA loyalists, also expressed her disapproval over Iran strikes, writing, "Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war," and added, "This is not our fight."

Rep Josh Gottheimer defends Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran

Amid the backlash, Josh Gottheimer came out to defend Donald Trump, saying the president didn’t need congressional approval to carry out the strikes on Iran and cited precedent from strikes carried out by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, according to Breitbart.

“I disagree with some of my colleagues. But, to that point, other presidents, including President Clinton in Kosovo, President Obama in Libya, obviously, took action to protect [from] an imminent threat [to] the United States,” the Democrat said on the Tuesday, June 24, broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s 'America Reports'.

In 2011, Obama approved airstrikes in Libya without seeking congressional consent, with his administration justifying the move under Article II. He applied the same rationale to carry out the 2011 mission to assassinate Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, former president Clinton initiated strikes in the Balkans without securing prior authorization from Congress in the 1990s.

Gottheimer then continued by stating that “Iran’s nuclear activity, I believe, is an imminent threat to our safety and security. So, obviously, deemed worthy of action."

Rep Josh Gottheimer acknowledges Donald Trump needs congressional approval for a 'longer incursion'

Rep Josh Gottheimer went on to say, "I think if you have a longer incursion…and a longer involvement of our forces, then the President, of course, should come to Congress.”

He further admitted that Trump’s action was necessary “given the imminent threat — not just the terror threat, but the nuclear threat. And we know that Iran is not our friend, right?”

“They have killed scores and scores of Americans, threatened our servicemembers, through their proxies, gone after our bases, and deserved, of course, to do everything to stop their nuclear threat. And so, obviously, I think this was the right decision. It was clear and decisive and the right action,” the congressman added.

However, Gottheimer added that “if there is a longer-term involvement, the President should come to Congress. And, also, the President should brief Congress, not just the Gang of Eight.”

“I think it was not the right move not to brief the full Gang of Eight before. The President and his people should have done that. They should also be briefing us on the intelligence. And I think it’s very important. Those are two different things. The action in Iran is one thing, but, of course, briefing us is another,” the New Jersey politician stated.

Rep John Fretterman calls Donald Trump Iran strikes the 'correct move'

Rep Josh Gottheimer isn’t the only Democrat who defended Donald Trump following the Iran strikes.

Earlier this week, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania hailed Trump for attacking three Iranian nuclear facilities amid the escalating situation between Israel and Iran.

“As I’ve long maintained, this was the correct move by @POTUS,” the Democrat wrote on X on Sunday.

“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,” he added.