In a stunning show of bipartisan honesty, a former Clinton and Biden advisor is publicly applauding President Donald Trump for the successful Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iran.
The bold U.S. military mission obliterated Iran’s key nuclear facilities on Saturday night.
Jamie Metzl, a former National Security Council staffer under President Bill Clinton and ex-deputy staff director under then-Senator Joe Biden, praised Trump’s leadership.
However, Metzl also cast doubt on whether Kamala Harris would have had the “courage or fortitude” to do the same.
“I am not a fan of many of Donald Trump’s actions, but I will speak openly and honestly when he takes bold steps defending America’s interests, as he did tonight,” Metzl posted on X.
I am not a fan of many of Donald Trump‘s actions, but I will speak openly and honestly when he takes bold steps defending America’s interests, as he did tonight.
— Jamie Metzl (@JamieMetzl) June 22, 2025
In a follow-up post, Metzl doubled down:
“I’m not a blind tribalist and am perfectly comfortable praising President Trump for bold and courageous actions in support of America’s core national interests, as he took last night.”
And in a stinging rebuke of the former Vice President, Metzl added:
“Although I believe electing Kamala Harris would have been better for our democracy, society, and economy…
“I also believe VP Harris would not have had the courage or fortitude to take such an essential step as the president took last night.”
I served on the National Security Council under President Clinton. I was Joe Biden’s Deputy Staff Director of the Senate foreign Relations Committee. I voted for Kamala Harris and have been a vocal critic of many dangerous and undemocratic actions taken by President Trump.
But…
— Jamie Metzl (@JamieMetzl) June 22, 2025
Metzl, who now leads the global think tank One Shared World, didn’t mince words about the Iranian threat and the necessity of the strike:
“Iran has been at war with the United States for 46 years.
“Its regime has murdered thousands of American citizens.
“Its slogan ‘death to America’ was not window dressing but core ideology.”
“It was racing toward a nuclear weapon with every intention of using it to threaten America, our allies, and the Middle East region as a whole.
“No actions like this come without risks… but that’s why these types of decisions are complicated.”
Metzl isn’t alone among traditionally liberal voices acknowledging the success of Trump’s high-risk, high-reward strategy.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) issued a statement praising the strike:
“The destruction of Iran’s nuclear program is essential to ultimate peace in the Middle East…
“The world is safer because of the actions of our brave service members.
“I’m praying for their safety in the region.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), no ally of MAGA, wrote:
“Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities.
“I’m grateful for and salute the finest military in the world.”
Even Trump-skeptical columnists at The New York Times admitted the president got it right.
Bret Stephens called Trump’s decision “courageous and correct,” and David French said the move was “right” on social media.
On Truth Social, Trump made the surprise announcement of the mission’s success Saturday evening, with no media leaks, no pre-briefings, and total shock to the enemy.
“A short time ago, the U.S. military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan,” Trump said during a late-night White House address, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity, and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror.
“Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.”
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Defense Secretary Hegseth revealed that the operation involved historic B-2 bomber missions, deep deception tactics, and absolute stealth.
“It involved misdirection and the highest of operational security,” Hegseth said.
“Our B-2s went in and out of… these nuclear sites, in and out and back, without the world knowing at all.
“In that way, it was historic.”
It was the longest B-2 mission since 2001, and the largest strike of its kind ever conducted by the U.S.
The strikes came after Israel launched preemptive attacks on June 12, targeting Iran’s nuclear assets following months of stalled negotiations and rising fears of Iranian weapons advancement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were essential to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.”
While President Trump acted decisively, defending America and our allies without delay or apology, critics like Kamala Harris remained silent.
And even some of his most ardent opponents, from Democrats in Congress to New York Times columnists, were forced to admit the obvious:
Trump got it right. The world is safer.
READ MORE – White House Slams CNN for Peddling ‘Fake News’ on Iran Strikes
