White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she wouldn’t “engage in hypotheticals” when asked two major questions on Trump’s plans for Iran.
First, she was asked whether Trump would circumvent Congress to strike Iran.
“[If] the U.S. were to take some type of military action, would the president go to Congress to seek war authority?” a reporter asked Leavitt at her Thursday press conference, referring to the power afforded to Congress by the Constitution.
“I’m not gonna engage in hypotheticals, I gave you the statement from the president, he’ll make a decision in two weeks,” she responded.
Leavitt referred to another valid question as a worthless hypothetical again a minute later when asked about Iran potentially retaliating with an attempt on the president’s life, as it has been accused of doing in the past.
“As for your question regarding Iranian retaliation, I’m not gonna engage in hypotheticals again. But I can assure the American public and the world that this administration is prepared and ready to defend American interests and assets not just in the region, but here on our homeland as well,” she said.
The Trump administration has already been supporting Israeli intelligence and helped them shoot Iranian missiles down. The United States is already at least tangentially involved, while seeming to inch closer to full participation by the day. These “hypotheticals” that Leavitt shirks off are being asked because they appear to be extremely likely outcomes, not just some random scenario that reporters are trying to sensationalize. It’s deeply troubling that the press secretary is dodging questions about whether the president will respect congressional war powers or launch us into another one of Israel’s wars, leaving a massive door open for Trump to avoid future accountability.
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