The 2026 war in the Persian Gulf is a unilateral presidential expedition. Now comes Trump’s eye-popping defense budget request of $1.5 trillion for 2027, compared with just over $1 trillion in 2026 military spending. Much more defense spending is needed to keep America’s global position from becoming “insolvent.” But much more defense spending, under current conditions, also means a much more powerful president. Seizing Greenland from Denmark would have been an act of war, of course, and Congress would never approve — but since when does Congress need to approve wars? The Supreme Court has evolved into the most visible check on presidential power within the U.S. That model doesn’t work for matters of war and peace.

Source: Washington Post April 12, 2026 12:02 UTC