By ALEX HAMMER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: 20:43 BST, 23 June 2025 | Updated: 20:43 BST, 23 June 2025

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A former spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee declared on CNN Sunday that Iran was not a 'true threat' to the US while arguing against Donald Trump's strikes. Xochitl Hinojosa, an on-air commentator for the network since 2022, insisted the president failed to produce proof of Iran's danger before he attacked three nuclear facilities in the country.

A former spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee declared on CNN Sunday that Iran was not a ‘true threat’ to the US while arguing against Donald Trump’s strikes. Xochitl Hinojosa, an on-air commentator for the network since 2022, insisted the president failed to produce proof of Iran’s danger before he attacked three nuclear facilities in the country.

The remark earned the wrath of senior correspondent and resident CNN Republican Scott Jennings, who joked: 'You're arguing that, after 46 years of the Iranian regime killing Americans, threatening Americans, saying over and over and over again "Death to America," that maybe they just didn't mean it?' Just before, he couldn't help but let out a laugh when Hinojosa expressed confusion about Trump not seeking congressional approval.

The remark earned the wrath of senior correspondent and resident CNN Republican Scott Jennings, who joked: ‘You’re arguing that, after 46 years of the Iranian regime killing Americans, threatening Americans, saying over and over and over again “Death to America,” that maybe they just didn’t mean it?’ Just before, he couldn’t help but let out a laugh when Hinojosa expressed confusion about Trump not seeking congressional approval.

'Normally, you would need congressional approval for something like this,' Hinojosa, 40, said of the bombings. 'And I know that my friend here is laughing a little bit.' 'Yes, I am laughing,' Jennings, 47, said. After being interrupted by another panelist, Hinojosa proceeded to stammer through her argument.

‘Normally, you would need congressional approval for something like this,’ Hinojosa, 40, said of the bombings. ‘And I know that my friend here is laughing a little bit.’ ‘Yes, I am laughing,’ Jennings, 47, said. After being interrupted by another panelist, Hinojosa proceeded to stammer through her argument.

'In order for them - in order for the president to take action without congressional approval, he needed to show that there was a real, true threat to the United States,' she said. 'And that the strike would not cause escalation.

‘In order for them – in order for the president to take action without congressional approval, he needed to show that there was a real, true threat to the United States,’ she said. ‘And that the strike would not cause escalation. 

'The problem with this is that normally you would have a group of lawyers from all across the agencies that actually would make these determinations. 'Trump did away with that at the beginning of this administration.

‘The problem with this is that normally you would have a group of lawyers from all across the agencies that actually would make these determinations. ‘Trump did away with that at the beginning of this administration.

'So it's unclear what type of legal advice Trump was getting. 'The Department of Defense usually puts out a statement and says what the legality is of any strike that the president is taking without congressional action. 'Here, we have not heard from DoD what is happening there.'

‘So it’s unclear what type of legal advice Trump was getting. ‘The Department of Defense usually puts out a statement and says what the legality is of any strike that the president is taking without congressional action. ‘Here, we have not heard from DoD what is happening there.’

Hinojosa said that in the coming weeks, federal officials would need to produce 'intelligence about how [Americans] were in direct threat and how the U.S. needed to respond without congressional approval.' 'But, as of right now, I have not seen that,' she added. Jennings then expressed his confusion after sarcastically billing Iranian jihadists as 'fiery, but mostly peaceful, Iranian butchers.'

Hinojosa said that in the coming weeks, federal officials would need to produce ‘intelligence about how [Americans] were in direct threat and how the U.S. needed to respond without congressional approval.’ ‘But, as of right now, I have not seen that,’ she added. Jennings then expressed his confusion after sarcastically billing Iranian jihadists as ‘fiery, but mostly peaceful, Iranian butchers.’

US defense expert Rebeccah Heinrichs joined in to go to bat for Jennings, calling the attack 'a clear opportunity, where American troops were going to be [in] the least amount of danger.' 'So, you have the combination, as Scott said, of a direct threat on the part of the Iran regime, very close to having a weaponized nuclear capability,' she explained.

US defense expert Rebeccah Heinrichs joined in to go to bat for Jennings, calling the attack ‘a clear opportunity, where American troops were going to be [in] the least amount of danger.’ ‘So, you have the combination, as Scott said, of a direct threat on the part of the Iran regime, very close to having a weaponized nuclear capability,’ she explained.

'To take that off the table brings greater peace and security to our troops deployed and to Americans here at home.' The back-and-forth came as pundits from both sides of the aisle continue to criticize the US attacks. Hinjosa joins lawmakers like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie in slamming the move as unconstitutional since it was made without congressional approval.

‘To take that off the table brings greater peace and security to our troops deployed and to Americans here at home.’ The back-and-forth came as pundits from both sides of the aisle continue to criticize the US attacks. Hinjosa joins lawmakers like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie in slamming the move as unconstitutional since it was made without congressional approval.

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Leading Dem claims Iran ‘wasn’t a threat’ to the US

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