Inside the Moment Trump Ordered Iran Strikes from Marine One
President Trump authorized a major strike on Iranian nuclear facilities from aboard Marine One, concluding weeks of internal debate and strategic manoeuvring. The operation, executed under tight secrecy, was designed to maximize surprise and minimize risk following diplomatic deadlock with Tehran.
In a dramatic moment that will likely be studied for years, President Donald Trump made the consequential decision to launch direct military strikes on Iran while aboard Marine One, en route from his golf club to a nearby airport Saturday afternoon. The go-ahead for the operation, now known as Operation Midnight Hammer, was delivered during a phone call with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was awaiting the final presidential authorization.
The strike came after weeks of mounting pressure from within the administration and Trump’s broader MAGA political circle. Senior officials, including Senator Lindsey Graham, advocated aggressively for military action, arguing that a strong show of force was necessary to restore America’s deterrent posture following the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, originally a proponent of renewed nuclear diplomacy, had also concluded that Iran was stalling and exploiting the White House’s patience.
Israeli military officials reportedly played a key advisory role, persuading Trump’s team that Israel’s recent operations over Iran had neutralized much of the risk involved. With Tehran’s air defenses degraded, the operation was seen as viable and time-sensitive.
Though publicly Trump had signaled he would decide within two weeks, that announcement, delivered by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, was, in part, a deliberate diversion meant to keep the actual timeline under wraps. Trump had grown irritated by leaks and speculation, and sought to regain operational surprise.
The strike itself unfolded with clockwork precision. Just after midnight local time in Iran, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers launched coordinated strikes on three key nuclear facilities. The mission lasted only 25 minutes, with U.S. aircraft exiting Iranian airspace without incident. A second fleet of bombers flew from the U.S. as a decoy to further confuse Iranian radar systems and decision-makers.
Back in Washington, Trump’s national security team had assembled in the Situation Room early Saturday morning, going over maps, intelligence briefings, and strike packages. The timing of the assault, overnight on the Sabbath in Iran, was chosen to catch Tehran off guard.
Trump’s decision, made mid-air in a helicopter with minimal staff present, highlights both his highly personal style of leadership and the extreme secrecy surrounding one of the most significant military moves of his presidency.