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Obama Authorization of Bin Laden Raid

The fact-check is about whether President Obama obtained congressional authorization for the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011.

Fact-Checks

2 results
Jan 15, 2026

Did Obama want laden killed?

President Barack Obama authorized the May 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden and had, shortly after taking office, made bin Laden’s “killing or capture” a top CIA priority—language indicating the a...

Jan 10, 2026

Did Obama take out Osama bin Laden without congressional approval

President Obama personally authorized Operation Neptune Spear, the May 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden, but he did not obtain a separate, specific prior roll‑call authorization from Congress for...