Trump Bypasses Congress and Ignites Expanding Middle East War Across Seven Nations
An already volatile Middle East spiraled further into chaos over the February 28–March 1 weekend as at least seven countries became entangled in a rapidly escalating conflict sparked by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Tehran.
The United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran’s capital, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Explosions were also reported in Jordan and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, raising fears the conflict could widen even further.
President Donald Trump ordered the strikes without seeking approval from Congress or securing a United Nations resolution — a move that has triggered sharp criticism from legal scholars and conservative commentators alike.
Conservative New York Times columnist David French warned that Trump’s unilateral decision risks both constitutional damage at home and strategic disaster abroad.
“Eight minutes,” French wrote, referring to the length of Trump’s social media video announcing the war. “He didn’t go to Congress. He didn’t obtain a UN Security Council resolution. Instead, he did perhaps the most monarchical thing he’s done in a monarchical second term: He simply ordered America into war.”
French, a longtime critic of Trump, made clear he harbors no sympathy for Iran’s regime. But, he argued, personal views about Tehran cannot override constitutional safeguards.
“The bottom line,” French wrote, “is that Trump should have gotten congressional approval for striking Iran, or he should not have struck at all. By bypassing Congress, he is increasing the risk that we repeat the same costly mistakes powerful nations have made before.”
The Constitution deliberately divides war powers between Congress and the president — giving lawmakers authority to declare war while granting the president command over the military. French argued that structure exists to create a presumption of peace and to force national debate before American troops are sent into conflict.
“Our nation cannot go to war until its leaders persuade a majority of Congress that war is in our national interest,” he wrote. “No matter what he thinks, Trump is not a king. But by taking America to war all on his own, he is acting like one.”
With regional tensions exploding and global powers watching closely, the consequences of that decision may reverberate far beyond Washington.
