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A resurfaced video clip of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defending President Barack Obama’s 2011 military strikes in Libya without congressional authorization is drawing renewed attention as Democrats criticize President Donald Trump’s decision to launch strikes against Iran.
In the clip, recorded during a 2011 press event, a reporter asked Pelosi whether Obama needed congressional approval to conduct the military operation in Libya.
“You’re saying that the president did not need authorization initially and still does not need any authorization from Congress on Libya?” the reporter asked.
“Yes,” Pelosi replied.
The remark contrasts sharply with Pelosi’s response to Trump’s weekend strikes against Iran, which she condemned as unconstitutional without prior approval from Congress.
“President Trump’s decision to initiate military hostilities into Iran starts another unnecessary war which endangers our servicemembers and destabilizes an already fragile region,” Pelosi wrote in a post on X.
“The Constitution is clear: decisions that lead our nation into war must be authorized by Congress,” she added, referencing the 1973 War Powers Act.
Pelosi’s office has argued that the two situations are fundamentally different.
“There is an absolute distinction between the limited military operations in Libya and the broad, escalating war with Iran initiated by President Trump,” Pelosi spokesperson Ian Krager said.
“Speaker Pelosi’s position has been consistent: when the prospect of expansive or prolonged hostilities exists, the Constitution and the War Powers Act are clear that Congress must authorize it.”
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