CNN Legal Analyst Admits Trump Had Legal Right to Strike Iran [WATCH]

CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said Monday that President Donald Trump’s recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities fall within the long-standing, constitutionally accepted authority of the commander-in-chief to use military force to protect American interests.

Speaking on CNN News Central, Honig addressed the legal debate surrounding Trump’s decision to launch strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites over the weekend.

While some members of Congress, including Democrat lawmakers, have argued the action was unconstitutional, Honig stated that the Constitution grants the president certain military powers independent of Congress.

Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

“Congress has the power to declare war formally. That’s under Article I, Section 8,” Honig said.

“However, the president also does have some inherent constitutional military powers. He is, of course, the commander-in-chief, and it’s long been recognized by legal scholars and by politicians on both sides of the aisle that the president does have inherent constitutional authority to use the military to protect American interests against imminent attacks.”

Honig acknowledged that the limits of presidential war powers have been debated for decades.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

“Where that line is though has long been the subject of debate,” he said.

The analyst also referenced the War Powers Act of 1973, enacted during the Vietnam War to place limits on unilateral military action by the executive branch.

The law requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying military forces and restricts their continued use beyond 60 to 90 days without congressional approval.

“We end up in this sort of grey area about what exactly has Congress or will Congress authorize,” Honig said.

President Trump announced the airstrikes on Saturday, describing the military operation as a “very successful attack” on three nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

All three locations are located outside Tehran and have been associated with Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

Following the strikes, reactions in Congress varied sharply along ideological lines. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., described the action as a “grave violation” of the Constitution and said it amounted to “grounds for impeachment.”

The President’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers.

He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations.

It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 22, 2025

Meanwhile, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced a joint resolution on June 17 that would require Congress to formally vote on authorizing any military action in Iran.

After the airstrikes occurred, Massie declared the military action “not Constitutional,” and Khanna called for Congress to “immediately” reconvene to consider the resolution.

This is not Constitutional. https://t.co/EU3fS5jcwb

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 21, 2025

In contrast, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., defended the president’s authority, stating that Trump had acted within the limits of his constitutional powers.

Massie responded in a Sunday appearance on Face the Nation, arguing that Johnson misinterpreted both the War Powers Act and the Constitution.

Republican leaders largely defended the president’s decision.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., stated during an interview on Meet the Press that “You cannot have 535 Commander in Chiefs.”

Q: Did Trump violate the Constitution by acting unilaterally in striking Iran?

Graham: No. He was within his Article II authority. Congress can declare war or cut off funding. You cannot have 535 Commander in Chiefs. 2/ pic.twitter.com/bP4RnS6oku

— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) June 23, 2025

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., broke ranks with some in his party, expressing support for the strikes.

“It was the correct move,” Fetterman said, emphasizing the need to confront Iran’s nuclear program.

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. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/YZ0pIaunff

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) June 22, 2025

The White House has maintained that the strikes were carried out in response to imminent threats and were designed to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Trump administration officials have stated that all necessary notifications to congressional leadership were made in accordance with legal requirements.

Connect with Vetted Off-Duty Cops to Instantly Fulfill Your Security Needs