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Congressman Pat Ryan, representing New York's 18th District, has voiced his disapproval of the Trump administration's decision to cancel a classified briefing with House members. The briefing was intended to discuss the recent U.S. bombing of a nuclear facility in Iran. Ryan, an Iraq War veteran, expressed his concerns on Tuesday (June 24) through social media, highlighting his frustration with the lack of explanation for the cancellation.
According to CNN, the strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend did not completely destroy the core components of Iran's nuclear program, contrary to President Trump's claims of "obliteration." The Defense Intelligence Agency's assessment suggested the strikes only set back Iran's nuclear ambitions by a few months. Despite this, President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have maintained that the operation was an overwhelming success.
Ryan's criticism comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the postponed briefing is tentatively set to take place on Friday (June 27). Ryan has expressed his eagerness to ask questions regarding the operation and its outcomes.
The Daily Freeman reported that Ryan's dissatisfaction stems from the administration's inability to substantiate claims about the success of the strikes. The delay in the briefing has raised questions among lawmakers about the true impact of the military action and the administration's transparency.
As the situation unfolds, the U.S. continues to gather intelligence to assess the full impact of the strikes. The classified briefing's rescheduling aims to provide lawmakers with a clearer understanding of the operation's outcomes and implications for U.S. foreign policy.