Ex-Clinton advisor hails Trump’s decisive Iran action, doubts Harris would show similar resolve; bipartisan support emerges.

Ex-Clinton Official Crosses Party Lines to Praise Trump’s Iran Decision

In a striking display of bipartisan approval, a former Clinton administration official broke with party orthodoxy to commend President Donald Trump for his bold military action against Iran. Jamie Metzl, who served on the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton and as deputy staff director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for then-Senator Joe Biden, used social media to publicly applaud Trump’s leadership and the precision of Operation Midnight Hammer.

Metzl’s messages over the weekend drew sharp contrasts between Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris. While reiterating his broader disagreements with Trump, Metzl asserted, "I am not a blind tribalist and am perfectly comfortable praising President Trump for bold and courageous actions in support of America’s core national interests, as he took last night." He suggested Harris would not have had the "courage or fortitude" to authorize such a mission if she had been commander-in-chief.

Bipartisan Voices Echo Support for Iran Strikes

Metzl’s praise resonated across the political spectrum as other Democrats, including New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, commended the operation’s necessity for national and regional security. Gottheimer labeled the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program "essential to ultimate peace in the Middle East," while Fetterman described Iran as "the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism" and stressed that it must not acquire nuclear capability.

The sentiment was echoed by prominent media voices as well. Columnists typically critical of Trump, such as Bret Stephens and David French, recognized the decision as "courageous and correct." While Metzl acknowledged his preference for Harris in broader leadership qualities, he contended that the moment called for exceptional resolve—a standard he credited Trump with meeting.

"Iran has been at war with the United States for 46 years. Its regime has murdered thousands of American citizens. Its slogan ‘death to America’ was not window dressing but core ideology," Metzl wrote. He warned of Iran’s ambitions to build nuclear weapons to threaten the U.S. and its allies, insisting that such military action, though risky, was required to protect American interests and global security.

Operation Midnight Hammer: A Tactical Success

President Trump’s announcement of the Saturday evening strikes on Iran came unexpectedly via social media, surprising many observers. The operation targeted three critical Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—with precision, backed by the secrecy and misdirection praised by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine. Hegseth described the B-2 bomber mission as "historic," marking it as the largest operational strike of its kind and the second-longest such mission ever flown.

Trump, flanked by key national security officials, described the outcome as a "spectacular military success," stating that the objective was the "destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity, and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's No. 1 state sponsor of terror." The strikes were so effective that the president claimed they had "obliterated" Iran’s facilities and put the regime in a position to make a peace deal.

Operation Midnight Hammer followed a period of intense regional tension, including Israeli preemptive action and stalled nuclear negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the escalation as vital to "roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival." The U.S. strikes, executed with surprise and precision, were designed to end Iran’s nuclear ambitions and send a powerful signal to adversaries worldwide.

Debate Persists, but Unusual Unity Emerges

While bipartisan praise for Trump’s actions was notable, the operation was not without its critics. Figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Thomas Massie argued that the administration overstepped by bypassing Congress. Nonetheless, the rare moment of cross-party unity underscored the gravity and impact of the operation.

As the nation and its allies absorb the implications of the strikes, the debate over the limits of executive power and the proper path to security in the Middle East will persist. Yet, for a brief moment, President Trump’s decision united unlikely voices, marking Operation Midnight Hammer as a turning point in both U.S. military and political history.