During Monday’s episode of The View, the co-hosts effectively dismantled the narrative being pushed by some Democrats and left-leaning media outlets—that President Donald Trump’s recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities violated the War Powers Resolution. With ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl at the table, the discussion turned into an unexpected moment of clarity on the long-standing pattern of presidents using military force without congressional approval.
Co-host Sunny Hostin raised the issue, citing Democratic lawmakers who claimed Trump had bypassed Congress and possibly violated the War Powers Act. Karl quickly put that claim in perspective.
“President after president after president has launched military action without the approval of Congress,” Karl explained. “This is not new. I covered President Clinton’s strikes on Kosovo back in 1999. Congress complained then too.”
“President after president has launched military action without the approval of Congress,” @ABC News’ @JonKarl tells ‘The View.’ “And Congress under Democratic and Republican leadership has complained the president is violating the War Powers Act — this is not new.” pic.twitter.com/Pmlyj8YgJp
— The View (@TheView) June 23, 2025
Joy Behar, in a rare moment of bipartisan candor, asked the obvious follow-up: “What’s the good of having [the War Powers Act] if they all violate it?” The point was clear: if this law is constantly skirted—by both Democrat and Republican presidents—then perhaps the outrage is less about legality and more about politics.
Alyssa Farah, formerly of the Trump administration, added critical context: the 2001 AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force), passed in the wake of 9/11, has been used to justify nearly every military operation for the past two decades. “Congress can’t be feckless and then be mad when they don’t like the outcome,” she said, highlighting the legislature’s long-standing pattern of ceding power and then complaining when it’s exercised.
My statement on Donald Trump’s unilateral military action in Iran. pic.twitter.com/2ZjZXlPbrl
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) June 22, 2025
This came in the wake of Democratic leaders lashing out over the strikes. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) went so far as to call the president’s action “absolutely grounds for impeachment.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Trump of failing to seek congressional authorization, while Sen. Elizabeth Warren predictably framed the move as reckless and unilateral.
Adding fuel to the fire, CNN published a misleading report claiming that GOP leaders were notified about the strike ahead of time, while Democrats weren’t informed until after the bombs had dropped. But that narrative quickly fell apart. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt set the record straight, explaining that both Democratic and Republican leaders were contacted before the operation. CNN and Sen. Chuck Schumer were forced to issue corrections after the administration provided call logs showing that outreach occurred before the airstrikes began.
🚨 INSANE: AOC is calling for President Trump’s impeachment following his decision to protect American interests by destroying Iran’s nuclear sites. pic.twitter.com/ZZbDwlUME3
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) June 22, 2025
“Hakeem Jeffries couldn’t be reached,” Leavitt said. “We tried him before the strike, and he did not pick up the phone… but he was briefed after. Chuck Schumer was briefed beforehand.”
CNN has since updated its article with a correction at the top, acknowledging that Schumer was, in fact, contacted before the operation, and that multiple attempts were made to reach Jeffries in advance.
