US Leaders Have Played War Without Congress Since The Spanish-American War, Still No Scoreboard
KEY POINTS
- â˘Since the Spanish-American War in 1899, US presidents have repeatedly launched military operations without explicit congressional approval.
- â˘Presidents like Truman and Nixon deployed troops under euphemisms like 'police action' or secret bombings to bypass Congress.
- â˘Recent actions include Trump's Operation Epic Fury against Iran, raising questions about the legality of unauthorized military force.
From McKinley cruising to war in the Philippines in 1899 under the fancy pretense of 'Treaty approval' (because why ask Congress when you've got a treaty?), to Truman labeling the Korean War a 'police action'âa euphemism for congressional ghostingâin the 1950s, US presidents have been secretly playing Risk on the world map. Nixon fancied himself a covert DJ, dropping bombs on Cambodia in 1970 without notifying Congress because subtlety is hard to explain in committee. Fast forward to Trumpâs era, where Operation Epic Fury launched against Iran was apparently approved by presidential caffeine-fueled judgment, even as his head of counterterror resigned in protest. Congress has been the world's least effective bench player since Pearl Harbor, officially retiring from war declarations December 8, 1941. The founders, who dreaded a president with 'too much military authority,' must be facepalming so hard in the afterlife. Military strikes have become as common and under-the-radar as Donald Trumpâs changing ceasefire predictions, with massive death tollsâlike 37,000 American and 5 million total in Koreaâreceived with minimal congressional âoopsâ or âhey what now?â See also: drones, cruise missiles, and wars without official paperwork since at least 1899.
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(1 of 3)Presidents treat Congress like a background app when waging warsâsilent, neglected, and ignored since 1899. Weâre all terrible drivers of our own lives, especially when on the highway of global conflict.
Congress' war powers walked out on duty so long ago even Wikipedia struggles to keep up.
Calling it a 'police action' never fooled anyone; itâs like calling a forest fire a campfire.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 4/15/2026 | Author: James LaForge
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