U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House, following an event at the Hilton Hotel, in Washington, D.C., U.S. June 26, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
President Donald Trump's latest justification for attacking Iran left one CNN analyst aghast on Monday.
Kristen Holmes, CNN's senior White House correspondent, reported on a letter Trump sent to congressional leaders, formally notifying them that fighting had resumed in Iran, during a segment on CNN's "The Lead" with Jake Tapper. Monday marked the third consecutive day of new U.S. strikes against Iran, which came in response to the Iranian regime announcing its intent to close the Strait of Hormuz.
In the letter, Trump told Congress that there are no ground troops involved in the new strikes, and they are "limited, measured, planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties." Trump also invoked his Article I powers in the letter, a point that Holmes found "striking."
"It's very striking, given the fact that President Trump has routinely said that he doesn't need to inform Congress that all of this was defensive," Holmes said.
Trump has previously claimed that he started the war with Iran to protect America's national security, a claim that some analysts have called into question. It has cost approximately $1 billion per day, and 14 service members have died.
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