House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said on Tuesday that he did not understand a reporter’s question comparing President Donald Trump’s recent military action in Iran with former President Barack Obama’s military action in Libya in 2011.

Jeffries took the question from Fox News congressional correspondent Bill Melugin, who referenced 2011 comments from then House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

At the time, Pelosi had insisted that Obama did not need prior authorization from Congress to strike Libya, nor did he need authorization to continue military action there.

What the Right Is Saying

Melugin pointed out that Libya went on for seven months and asked why Democrats say Trump needs approval to bomb Iran.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the Gang of Eight had been informed and cited the War Powers Resolution of 1973 to assert that the Trump administration had done things by the book.

Rubio noted that no presidential administration, Republican or Democrat, has ever accepted the War Powers Resolution as constitutional.

What the Left Is Saying

Jeffries said Iran is very different and told reporters he did not understand the genesis or basis of the question regarding congressional approval.

He added that he was not in Congress at the time of the Libya intervention and stated they were dealing with the circumstances facing the nation right now.

Jeffries complained that the Trump administration had acted without intelligence indicating a preeminent attack on the United States or American interests.

He claimed that if such action was necessary, it meant that the president had not been telling the truth when he said that the airstrikes last year had completely wiped out Iran’s nuclear program.

What the Numbers Show

The War Powers Resolution states that the president can engage in military action for up to 48 hours without informing Congress.

The resolution allows the president to continue to wage war for up to 60 days with an additional 30 days for any necessary troop drawdowns without going to Congress for authorization.

The current operation against Iran was reported as being just over 72 hours old at the time of the exchange.

Trump’s initial prediction was that the mission could be accomplished in a matter of weeks rather than the seven months duration of the Libya operation.

The Bottom Line

Multiple Democrats have criticized Trump for authorizing action against Iran without first consulting Congress for authorization.

The debate highlights ongoing tensions regarding executive military power and constitutional war-making authority under existing federal law.