Radio host Charlamagne tha God sharply criticized Democrats on Monday for their selective outrage over President Donald Trump’s recent strike on Iran, calling out what he described as glaring hypocrisy in how presidents from both parties have historically bypassed Congress in military actions.
The controversy stems from the U.S. military’s surprise operation on Saturday, in which B-2 stealth bombers struck three of Iran’s most critical nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the sites sustained “extremely severe damage and destruction.” The offensive was launched without prior congressional authorization.
Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) condemned the move during a Sunday appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, stating that Trump should have sought approval from Congress before acting. “That’s the constitutional approach,” Kelly insisted, emphasizing the need for consultation and transparency on such significant military operations.
Charlamagne, however, challenged Kelly’s stance during his broadcast, noting the inconsistency in Democratic criticism. “Mark Kelly is right,” he said. “The president should get congressional approval. But there have been a bunch of presidents who have ordered strikes without it.”
The host listed past examples: former President Obama’s strikes in Libya, former President Biden’s actions in Iraq and Syria, and former President Clinton’s military involvement in Kosovo. “It’s become routine,” Charlamagne concluded.
His co-host, Morgyn V. Wood, added that Trump’s unilateral action is being cited in potential impeachment discussions, raising the question of precedent. Charlamagne pushed back, asking why similar actions by previous presidents did not lead to serious impeachment threats. “When Biden did it, when Clinton did it—nothing happened,” he said.
DJ Envy, another co-host, chimed in, noting that the media response to Trump’s action appears dramatically louder. “We didn’t hear about it when Obama did it,” he said, adding that the difference seems to be more political than procedural.
Charlamagne agreed but clarified that he remembered criticism during Obama’s Libya campaign. “I do remember people in Congress saying he needed approval,” he said. “But with Biden? I don’t even remember it making a headline.”
The discussion closed with a reference to the broader pattern, as Wood brought up the public backlash to Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Charlamagne summarized the growing trend: “Presidents ordering military action without Congress' approval has become routine,” quoting an NBC News headline to reinforce his point.