President Trump’s push for $200 billion in Pentagon funding to escalate military operations against Iran—while refusing to call it a “war”—comes as gas prices soar past $3.98 per gallon and polls show 61% of Americans disapproving of the conflict, raising serious questions about constitutional war powers and who authorized this escalation.
Story Highlights
- Pentagon requests $200 billion for Iran operations without formal congressional war declaration, bypassing War Powers Act requirements
- Gas prices jumped from $2.97 to $3.98 per gallon since conflict began February 28, worsening inflation amid $37 trillion national debt
- Trump approval for strikes drops to 35% with 61% disapproval; high-ranking intelligence official Joe Kent resigns over unauthorized war decision
- President calls conflict “military operation” and “excursion” to avoid constitutional war declaration, echoing Putin’s Ukraine rhetoric
- Congress rejects Senator Murphy’s resolution to withdraw from Iran operations while facing unpopular vote on $200 billion funding
Bypassing Constitutional War Powers
Trump launched military strikes against Iran on February 28 alongside Israel without seeking congressional authorization for war. The President repeatedly avoids using the word “war,” instead calling the conflict a “military operation” or “excursion” to sidestep the War Powers Act’s 60-day limit and congressional approval requirements. At a National Republican Congressional Committee dinner, Trump explicitly stated he refuses to use “war” terminology, directly paralleling Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” language for Ukraine. This semantic dodge raises fundamental constitutional concerns about executive overreach and whether American troops are dying in an unauthorized war.
Economic Pain Fuels Public Backlash
The conflict’s economic toll devastates American families already struggling with inflation and a potential recession. Gas prices spiked from $2.97 per gallon when strikes began to $3.98 currently, driven by Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and disrupt global energy markets. The Pentagon’s $200 billion funding request comes as the national debt exceeds $37 trillion, forcing hardworking taxpayers to fund another Middle East conflict while their own costs skyrocket. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the massive funding ask at a Thursday press conference, defending escalation despite widespread economic strain that hits conservative communities particularly hard.
Polling Collapse and Intelligence Resignations
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted March 20-23 shows only 35% of Americans approve of the Iran strikes, down from 37% earlier, while 61% disapprove. Even more troubling, 25% of respondents believe the war makes America less safe, contradicting administration claims about enhanced security. The disapproval extends beyond polling—high-ranking intelligence official Joe Kent resigned over the unauthorized war decision, signaling internal dissent within the national security apparatus. Congress voted down Senator Chris Murphy’s resolution to withdraw from Iran operations, effectively allowing the conflict to continue without formal authorization while Democrats debate whether voting for the $200 billion constitutes de facto war approval.
Broken Promises to MAGA Base
Trump’s second term promised to keep America out of new wars, yet troops are dying in an escalating Middle East conflict that lacks congressional approval and burdens families with rising energy costs. The administration claims tariff threats against Iran and Pakistan enhance national security, but the reality shows American blood and treasure spent on regime change operations that the base explicitly rejected. Trump’s own rhetoric vacillates wildly—claiming the “war essentially ended” in one speech while simultaneously warning of nuclear threats and requesting $200 billion for continued operations. This contradiction, combined with economic pain and constitutional questions, betrays the America First principles that put limited government and non-interventionism at the forefront of conservative values.
Sources:
The Daily Beast: Trump, 79, Makes Embarrassing Error Promoting New War Word
