By William Koenig | White House Correspondent
June 21, 2025 | Washington, D.C.
In a bold and far-reaching military operation, President Donald J. Trump authorized precision U.S. strikes on Iran’s three primary nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. The assault, carried out by B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles, marked a decisive escalation in the long-running confrontation between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Pentagon has confirmed that the operation was executed without loss of U.S. assets, with all aircraft returning safely. Intelligence assessments indicate the targeted sites—some of the most hardened and secretive in Iran’s nuclear program—were significantly degraded or destroyed.
This action is not without precedent. Past U.S. presidents—Reagan in Libya, Clinton in Iraq, Bush in Iraq and Afghanistan, and even Trump in Syria—have authorized precision strikes. But tonight’s attack stands apart in scale, strategic impact, and its direct targeting of a hostile regime’s nuclear core.
It is a clear signal that the United States will not tolerate nuclear brinkmanship from the world’s leading sponsor of terror. And unlike many of his predecessors, President Trump acted decisively in a moment when global leaders called for restraint.
Presidential Resolve—and Historical Echoes
President Trump’s strike comes amid an international climate of caution. European leaders urged him not to escalate. Advisors within his own party expressed concerns about retaliation. Beijing, Moscow, and even voices in the Gulf pressed for diplomacy over confrontation.
But Trump acted.
"Peace through strength—first comes strength, then peace." —President Donald J. Trump, June 21, 2025
The historical parallel is not to 1941, but to 1948, when President Harry S. Truman defied fierce opposition and recognized the rebirth of the State of Israel. Tonight, President Trump followed that path—not with recognition, but with protection. He stood firmly with Israel in the face of direct threats from Tehran.
One week ago, Ambassador Mike Huckabee told the President: “God spared you in Butler, Pennsylvania to be the most consequential President in a century—maybe ever.” That statement now bears the weight of history.
"I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you." —Genesis 12:3
What Comes Next
Israeli defense officials stated tonight that the U.S. strikes have “dramatically shifted the strategic balance” in the region. But military planners are preparing for retaliatory responses from Iran’s vast network of proxies: Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, IRGC-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, and possibly cyber or asymmetric actions from Iranian partners like Russia or China.
A Message Beyond Tehran
Tonight’s decision altered the trajectory of U.S.–Middle East policy. It sent a message not only to Tehran, but also to Moscow, Beijing, and Pyongyang: the United States will act—alone if necessary—when its red lines are crossed.
This strike wasn’t symbolic. It was strategic. And it may have forestalled the unthinkable: a nuclear-armed Iran under a regime committed to Israel’s destruction and America’s decline.
A New Day
The world changed on June 21, 2025. It will be recorded as a day of American resolve.
And from the White House press corridor, we will continue to cover President Trump with prayer as the consequences—and the clarity—of this moment unfold.