Overview
- President Trump announced "Operation Epic Fury" in the early hours, framing the campaign as ending a security threat and urging Iranians to seize control of their government.
- U.S. and Israeli forces hit government and military sites across Iran; state media reported hundreds killed, and Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the region.
- Saturday Night Live hastily reworked its cold open to lampoon the rationale for the assault, with Trump portrayed as the "Board of Peace" leader who was "bored of peace" and Pete Hegseth declaring, "we're doing war."
- Jack White, Rosie O’Donnell, Mark Ruffalo, John Cusack, Carrie Coon and Stephen King posted condemnations, citing broken promises of "no new foreign wars" and pointing to constitutional questions over war powers.
- Reporting highlighted claims of minimal consultation with Congress and noted Trump’s pledge to continue operations, as concern grows over regional escalation and civilian casualties.