White House spokesman Hogan Gidley came under fire from Democrats on Friday after tweeting that critics of President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE didn't raise concerns about "imminent attacks" when former President Obama ordered military operations against senior al Qaeda leaders.

Trump has come under scrutiny for his justification of last week's drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoHillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep MORE on Friday said intelligence suggested that Soleimani had been plotting a “large-scale” attack that threatened U.S. embassies, but he acknowledged that the administration did not know when or where the attack would occur, prompting more criticism about whether it was imminent.

Gidley later tweeted that Democrats were not interested in debating imminent attacks during the Obama administration.

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“Soleimani was, in fact, planning ‘imminent attacks,’” he tweeted. “While Democrats and the media quibble over its definition, quick point: When Obama killed bin Laden, al-Awlaki and Gaddafi, without Congressional approval, there were NO ‘imminent attacks’ and Democrats did not ask or care.”

Soleimani was, in fact, planning "imminent attacks." While Democrats and the media quibble over its definition, quick point: When Obama killed bin Laden, al-Awlaki and Gaddafi, without Congressional approval, there were NO "imminent attacks" and Democrats did not ask or care. — Hogan Gidley (@hogangidley45) January 10, 2020

Several Democratic lawmakers and Obama's national security spokesman quickly responded to Gidley's tweet by pointing out that a 2001 congressional authorization legislation allowed the U.S. military to target senior al Qaeda leaders such as Anwar al-Awlaki and Osama bin Laden.

“Whether you support those actions or not, Congress did authorize, in 2001, the use of military force against al-Qaeda,” tweeted Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). “Saying they did not is a lie.”

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They also pointed out that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was killed by Libyan protesters, not by Obama, during the Arab Spring in 2011.

“Like, just do a google search, man,” tweeted Sen. Chris Murphy Christopher (Chris) Scott MurphyDemocratic senator calls for 'more flexible' medical supply chain to counter pandemics The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon GOP chairman to release interim report on Biden probe 'in about a week' MORE (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Like, just do a google search, man.



Obama didn't kill Gaddafi. Libyans did.



Obama didn't need to claim an "imminent attack" in either the al-Awlaki or bin Laden killing.



You know why? Because there was explicit congressional approval to target Al Qaeda leaders. https://t.co/g2UE6NkCkc — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) January 10, 2020

Soleimani is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and their allies in the Middle East, but many lawmakers emerged from classified briefings this week saying senior administration officials did not adequately make the case that he was an imminent threat. That criticism came mostly from Democrats but also from a handful of Senate Republicans, such as Sen. Mike Lee Michael (Mike) Shumway LeeMcConnell shores up GOP support for coronavirus package McConnell tries to unify GOP Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump MORE (Utah) and Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulSecond GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus GOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Trump seeks to flip 'Rage' narrative; Dems block COVID-19 bill MORE (Ky.).

Hey Hogan, long time no see. Bin Laden and Awlaki were senior, operational Al Qaeda leaders. Congress authorized war against AQ back in 2001. Gaddafi was killed by members of the NTC - not by US forces. But wrt imminence - you have agency here. Release the intelligence. Prove it. — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) January 10, 2020

Gidley later sought to debate his critics. He also claimed that he meant the Obama administration had taken credit for Gaddafi's death.

"Emails (the ones Hillary didn’t delete) showed her advisers urged her to own it," Gidley tweeted. "Obama’s authorization of a bombing campaign and his Administration’s assistance in the overthrow of the Libyan government led to Gaddafi’s death...everyone knows this. We all saw how he died."

...Hey "fact checkers," don't be ridiculous. What I was clearly saying is that Obama and Hillary took credit for the killing of these terrorists repeatedly, including Gaddafi. Hillary even said: "We came. We saw. He died."... — Hogan Gidley (@hogangidley45) January 10, 2020

…Emails (the ones Hillary didn’t delete) showed her advisers urged her to own it. Obama’s authorization of a bombing campaign and his Administration’s assistance in the overthrow of the Libyan government led to Gaddafi’s death...everyone knows this. We all saw how he died… — Hogan Gidley (@hogangidley45) January 10, 2020