Overview
- President Trump announced Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S.-Israeli pre-dawn strikes and urged the IRGC and police to “merge” with Iranian patriots.
- On Meet the Press, Sen. Lindsey Graham said it is not Washington’s job to pick Iran’s next leader, reiterated “no American boots on the ground,” and set goals of ending Tehran’s terror sponsorship and curbing missiles and nukes.
- Sen. Mark Kelly called Khamenei’s death a “good thing” but warned that “hope is not a strategy,” pressed for a concrete plan, and said operating without ground forces would be “incredibly challenging.”
- Several Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, called for a war powers vote to require authorization for further action, as the White House briefed committees after strikes began.
- Fighting has continued with reported casualties that include three U.S. service members and large numbers of Iranian civilians in retaliatory and follow-on strikes, while Graham blasted European calls for negotiations.