White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Saturday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio notified senior congressional leaders ahead of the joint U.S. Israeli military operation against Iran. Leavitt’s statement, posted to X, came as critics questioned whether President Donald Trump authorized the strikes without the required approval from Congress.
“President Trump monitored the situation overnight at Mar a Lago alongside members of his national security team. The President spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu by phone,” Leavitt wrote.
“Prior to the attacks, Secretary Rubio called all members of the gang of eight to provide congressional notification, and he was able to reach and brief seven of the eight members,” she added.
“The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day.”
Leavitt did not indicate whether Trump would return to Washington or remain at his Florida residence.
The so-called “Gang of Eight” includes the Senate and House majority and minority leaders, as well as the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence committees. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) confirmed that the group had been briefed.
“The Gang of Eight was briefed in detail earlier this week about potential military action against Iran,” Johnson said, according to The Independent.
President Trump monitored the situation overnight at Mar a Lago alongside members of his national security team. The President spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu by phone.
Prior to the attacks, Secretary Rubio called all members of the gang of eight to provide congressional…
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 28, 2026
Under the 1947 National Security Act, Congress must be kept “fully informed” of significant intelligence activities.
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However, according to the Harvard Kennedy School, presidents from both parties have interpreted that language to mean that notifying the “Gang of Eight” satisfies the requirement rather than briefing the full intelligence committees.
Leavitt’s comments followed criticism from Rep. Thomas Massie, R Ky., who wrote on X, “Acts of war unauthorized by Congress.”
Acts of war unauthorized by Congress.
The U.S. is attacking Iran according to AP.https://t.co/Bgwk8yIdRT— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 28, 2026
Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, D Calif., had planned to force a vote next week that would restrict Trump’s ability to launch strikes on Iran without formal congressional authorization.
As the debate over war powers intensified, Rubio announced Friday that Iran had been designated a state sponsor of wrongful detention.
“When the Iranian regime seized power 47 years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini consolidated his control of power by endorsing the hostage taking of US embassy staff,” Rubio said in a statement.
“For decades, Iran has continued to cruelly detain innocent Americans, as well as citizens of other nations, to use as political leverage against other states. This abhorrent practice must end.”
Rubio said Trump signed an executive order last fall to protect U.S. nationals from wrongful detention abroad and that Congress later enacted the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025.
“The Iranian regime must stop taking hostages and release all Americans unjustly detained in Iran, steps that could end this designation and associated actions,” Rubio said.
The statement warned of further measures if Iran “does not stop,” including a potential “geographic travel restriction on the use of US passports to, through, or from Iran.”
Amid the escalating tensions, the State Department announced Saturday that Rubio had canceled a planned trip to Israel.
“Due to current circumstances, Secretary Rubio will no longer travel to Israel on March 2,” Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson wrote on X.
The White House has maintained that congressional leaders were properly notified and that the president acted within his authority as commander in chief.
