Turns Out, Trump Did Call Democrat Leaders Before the Strike.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Was Just Too Busy to Pick Up the Phone.

Schumer did pick up the phone, but somehow did not leak advanced word to Iran.

CNN tried to stir controversy by reporting that while House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune were briefed ahead of time, Democrat leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries were only informed shortly before the public announcement, after the operation had already taken place. But as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained on Fox News, this was nothing more than a misleading narrative designed to distract from a major American victory. Leavitt didn't just push back; she dismantled the lie piece by piece.

"We did make bipartisan calls," Leavitt stated, setting the record straight from the outset. "Thomas Massie and the Democrats -- he should be a Democrat 'cause he's more aligned with them than with the Republican Party -- were given notice. The White House made calls to congressional leadership. They were bipartisan calls."

The White House, contrary to the manufactured narrative, conducted its due diligence and reached out to leaders on both sides of the aisle. The administration's outreach efforts were comprehensive, but in a detail that speaks volumes, the top Democrat in the House was apparently unavailable to take a call of such national security importance.

Leavitt revealed the specifics of the outreach, exposing the disingenuous nature of the complaints.

"In fact, Hakeem Jeffries couldn't be reached," she explained. "We tried him before the strike and he didn't pick up the phone, but he was briefed after, as well as Chuck Schumer was briefed prior to the strike."

As to Massie: Trump has declared war on him and will support a primary challenger.

President Donald Trump tore into Rep. Thomas Massie on Sunday, blasting the Kentucky congressman for siding with Democrats and opposing a decisive U.S. military operation that crippled three of Iran's most critical nuclear facilities.

"Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Actually, MAGA doesn't want him, doesn't know him, and doesn't respect him."

Trump accused Massie of consistently opposing critical Republican policies and likened him to "Rand Paul, Jr." for his habit of voting no on major legislation. Trump blasted him as "a simple-minded grandstander" and said Massie was playing into Iran's hands by trying to block efforts to prevent the Islamic regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"Iran has killed and maimed thousands of Americans," Trump wrote. "This 'lightweight' Congressman is against what was so brilliantly achieved last night in Iran," referring to the military operation he authorized.

On CBS's Face the Nation Sunday, Massie defended his position, stating, "We were tired of endless wars in the Middle East... we should have debated this war powers resolution instead of staying on vacation." He argued Congress should reclaim its constitutional authority over war decisions.

Trump dismissed that argument outright. "Massie should drop his fake act and start putting America First, but he doesn't know how to get there -- he doesn't have a clue!" he said, adding that Massie is "disrespectful to our great military."

The president ended the post with a vow: "The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I'll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard."

posted by Ace at 01:28 PM

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