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Graham: Trump ‘had all the authority he needs under the Constitution’ for Iran strikes
The Hill ^ | 06/22/25 11:14 AM ET | by Sarah Fortinsky

Posted on 06/22/2025 8:43:01 AM PDT by RandFan

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in a Sunday morning interview pushed back on claims that President Trump acted outside his Constitutional authority by ordering strikes on Iran.

“No, he was within his Article II authority,” Graham said in an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” when asked if Trump violated the U.S. Constitution by “acting unilaterally.”

“Congress can declare war or cut off funding,” Graham continued. “We can’t be the commander in chief. You can’t have 535 commander in chiefs.”

“If you don’t like what the president does, in terms of war, you can cut off the funding. But declaring war is left of the Congress. We’ve declared war five times in the history of America. All of these other military operations were lawful.”

“He had all the authority he needs under the Constitution. They are wrong,” he added, referring to critics who say Trump should have sought congressional approval before ordering strikes on the three Iranian nuclear sites this weekend.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: articleii; bravolindseygraham; jewhatersonfr; lindseygraham; meetthepress; mullahloversonfr; multiplenicks; randpaulsucks; sarahfortinsky; southcarolina; thehill; theshill
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To: Dartoid

I’m very comfortable not standing with Goober Graham

Maybe you should send him a check


21 posted on 06/22/2025 9:05:41 AM PDT by RandFan
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To: RandFan
Congress declares war. The president commands the arm forces to act(both in no particular order)

If Congress doesn't like the way the president is commanding the troops, they can cut the funding.

All three principles are in the Constitution.

22 posted on 06/22/2025 9:06:16 AM PDT by FreeReign
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To: RandFan

Did Graham say different? Have we declared war? Does it really matter what Grahams pie hole spouts? Tell RP to pass the BBB.


23 posted on 06/22/2025 9:06:40 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: FlingWingFlyer

Have the brainless DemonRAT “senatehos” started making dates for conjugal visits with their favorite Iranian ayatollahs yet?


24 posted on 06/22/2025 9:08:29 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Correction! America is a nation of LEGAL IMMIGRANTS! All of mine came here legally. No free stuff.)
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To: FreeReign

Exactly!


25 posted on 06/22/2025 9:09:39 AM PDT by RandFan
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To: RandFan

This tempest doesn’t even have a teapot.


26 posted on 06/22/2025 9:11:40 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (The road is a dangerous place man, you can die out here...or worse. -Johnny Paycheck, 1980, Reno, NV)
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To: ProgressingAmerica

Doesn’t say much for the voters of South Carolina...


27 posted on 06/22/2025 9:14:02 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (Hospitals are the most dangerous place on Earth! Dr. David Williams)
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To: RandFan

You are right. Every sneak attack and troop movement needs to be passed through Congress. The Joint Chiefs meetings also need to be televised. Full transparency……..unless it’s a deMS -13 president. Jeesh.

EC


28 posted on 06/22/2025 9:16:04 AM PDT by Ex-Con777
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To: All

Graham has always been more friendly with President Trump all these time. You rarely ever hear of any criticisms against Graham from President Trump.

I voted for President Trump knowing that there is a high chance we might get into another armed conflict, and surely it has happened and he is the best person for it.

Now, after this, I’m hoping we continues to send ICE to all the low hanging fruit sites, ie, every farm, construction sites, Tyson’s meat packing (in richmond) in america.

I do have an idea, to run a grocery store chain where everything in there is touched by US citizens and not illegals. if people are paying double for organics at whole foods, I’m sure Patriots would knock my door down paying for my grocery picked by American citizens.


29 posted on 06/22/2025 9:17:48 AM PDT by VAFreedom (Wuhan Pneumonia-Made by CCP, Copyright Xi Jingping)
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To: RandFan

Actually he is correct and Thomas Massie (siding with the Democrats) is wrong.


30 posted on 06/22/2025 9:18:49 AM PDT by SoConPubbie (Trump has all the right enemies, DeSantis has all the wrong friends.)
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To: RandFan
Jost to be clear.

Declaring war and commanding the troops are two separate independent constitutional powers.

Congress doesn't need the Chief Executive to declare war. The Chief Executive doesn't need Congress to command the troops.

What Trump did IS constitutional.

If Congress doesn't like the Chief Executive commanding the troops to drop 14 bunker busters, their constitutional efforts extend to defunding the effort.

31 posted on 06/22/2025 9:19:43 AM PDT by FreeReign
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To: RandFan

Just to be clear.
Declaring war and commanding the troops are two separate independent constitutional powers.

Congress doesn’t need the Chief Executive to declare war. The Chief Executive doesn’t need Congress to command the troops.

What Trump did IS constitutional.

If Congress doesn’t like the Chief Executive commanding the troops to drop 14 bunker busters, their constitutional powers extend to defunding the effort.


32 posted on 06/22/2025 9:21:09 AM PDT by FreeReign
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To: RandFan

Jefferson pounded the Barbary coast without a declaration of war from Congress.


33 posted on 06/22/2025 9:22:07 AM PDT by fruser1
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To: RandFan

Several Freepers hope you get the Zot

I disagree

It’s important to keep you and Sen. Paul around, sort of like exotic creatures in a zoo, as examples of how libertarians believe the Constitution is a suicide pact.

And how Sen. Paul and his toadies have no actual solutions to vexing problems other than to tell everyone else: You’re doing it the wrong way

You have no actual solutions to the vexing problem of Iran.


34 posted on 06/22/2025 9:26:35 AM PDT by Old West Conservative
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To: Magnum44

I just looked it up using AI. Graham is right about Congress voting to declare war only five times.

What happened last night wasn’t unprecedented.


35 posted on 06/22/2025 9:28:03 AM PDT by packagingguy
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To: Ex-Con777
Every sneak attack and troop movement needs to be passed through Congress.

Even if your statement is true, based on the Democrat/Communist Party's long and sordid history of leaks (especially most everything and anything involving to Trump and to making Trump "look bad") and with RINOs who truly despise Trump's strength), I think the C-I-C has a legitimate and serious concern with providing advanced notice to Congress of military action when it involves surprise.

36 posted on 06/22/2025 9:30:04 AM PDT by glennaro (2025: The year of America's rebirth as a Great (and Free) Republic)
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To: RandFan

I would have liked better reassurance than Warwhore approves.


37 posted on 06/22/2025 9:31:44 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: Ex-Con777

It’s the opposite and I think you know that


38 posted on 06/22/2025 9:43:39 AM PDT by RandFan
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To: Old West Conservative

Only one or two say that but FR is not an echo chamber and shouldn’t be


39 posted on 06/22/2025 9:44:49 AM PDT by RandFan
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To: SoConPubbie

The Democrats are not authentic and are hypocrites on this subject


40 posted on 06/22/2025 9:46:07 AM PDT by RandFan
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