‘Brilliant’ to ‘avoidable;’ SC lawmakers react after US strikes Iranian nuclear sites

ABC Team,
Aptopix Mideast Wars Trump

President Donald Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington, Saturday, June 21, 2025, after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites, directly joining Israel’s effort to decapitate the country’s nuclear program, as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen. (Carlos Barria/Pool via AP)

 

 

(WCIV) — From gleeful celebrations, dutiful deference, and posts laden with American flag emojis to notable silence, continued doubt, and questions over lack of congressional approval, lawmakers from across the Palmetto State are offering their reactions to the US military’s bombing operation in the Middle East late Saturday night.

The strikes enacted under “Operation Midnight Hammer” targeted the Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear facilities in Iran, utilizing American B-2 stealth bombers and the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound bunker-buster bomb, according to U.S. officials.

US Senate

US Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott immediately voiced their support for President Donald Trump in the wake of the attacks. Graham has long offered full-throated support for escalation with Iran, saying that the decision to drop bombs Saturday was “the right call” and that “the regime deserves it.”

Sen. Graham joined Meet the Press Sunday morning and called the operation “bold, brilliant, and effective,” saying President Trump is “the right leader at the right time.” In a later post, Graham said he’s “never been more proud of President Trump.”

Sen. Scott, who was in Charleston Saturday night, labelled Trump’s actions as “decisive American leadership.”

“Americans and the world can thank President Trump for his courage to lead,” Scott concluded.

US House

Rep. Nancy Mace (SC-01) unleashed a predictably enthusiastic flurry of star-spangled posts on her personal X account, with one of her first statements after reposting the President’s message saying “I really hope those bunker buster bombs were paid for using taxpayer dollars originally meant for DEI programs.”

The Lowcountry representative went on to post “USA! USA! USA!” and multiple clips of Fox News coverage of Trump’s 10 p.m. address, calling him the “greatest president in American history” and saying “God Bless the United States of America.”

The congresswoman wrote “Clean up on aisle Tehran” despite the nearest site hit, Fordow, being an almost 80-mile, two-hour drive from the Iranian capital, and “Who wants to bet a federal judge in California orders President Trump tomorrow morning to rebuild Iran’s nuclear program,” which has not happened as of noon Sunday.

On her official congressional X account, Mace thanked the President, saying there was “no greater friend and ally of Israel and the Jewish people” than him, called the attacks “history in the making,” and said that Trump “just reminded Iran and the whole world: THIS is America. Not the weakness we saw the past four years.”

Rep. Russell Fry (SC-07), a Republican, labelled the military action as “Peace through strength and promises kept” on his personal account, while reiterating the common refrain that “Iran CANNOT have a nuclear weapon” on his official account.

Rep. Sheri Biggs (SC-03), a combat veteran, expressed appreciation for the “precision and exceptionalism” of the US military and thanked the President, Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05) said Trump’s decision was a defense of democracy “around the world,” and Rep. William Timmons (SC-04), a captain in the Air National Guard, said the attacks sent a clear message that “the US will defend our interests and our allies.”

Republican Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02) said that “enemies of America” insulted President Trump’s efforts in peace negotiations, instead pursuing “apocalyptic delusions.”

“Assad was warned in 2017. The Iranian regime was warned. War criminal Putin has been warned,” Wilson wrote. “President Trump will not hesitate to act when tested.”

Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC-06), a Democrat who was notably silent online in the aftermath of the bombings save a Sunday morning post about the GI Bill, posted a statement on X later calling the President’s unilateral decision to attack without congressional approval “unconstitutional and unwise.”

“This move, a rash sequel to his withdrawal from the nuclear deal, puts our nation, our troops, and innocents at grave risk,” the congressman said. “Trump promised to be a peacemaker and vowed to avoid plunging the U.S. into more wars in the Middle East. This attack is inconsistent with his promise to the American people.”

State level

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster wrote on X that the attacks ensure “the safety of our nation and our allies like Israel,” and that he stands with American troops.

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette thanked President Trump for “putting the safety of America and Americans FIRST!” and that the “goal of showing U.S. strength is peace.”

Attorney General Alan Wilson said he was “so proud” of the military and “leadership of President Trump.”

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