Trump’s Lust for Power
Published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
(Germany) on 2 November 2025
by Andreas Ross (link to
original)
Many U.S. commanders in chief have tried to break free of the constraints that Congress imposes on them. This makes it easy for the unabashed Trump.
While helping on the campaign trail in Virginia, Barack Obama expressed concerns shared by America’s allies. “Every day this White House offers people a fresh batch of lawlessness and recklessness and mean-spiritedness and just plain craziness” under Donald Trump. Obama does not say, however, whether he regrets having pushed some boundaries himself in his struggle with Congress, boundaries that Trump is now blithely pushing further.
This includes, for instance, the commander in chief’s obligation under the War Powers Act of 1973 to secure authorization from elected representatives no later than 60 days before continuing military “hostilities.” Trump does not want to do this in his lethal fight against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean — after all, the drone attacks do not pose any threat to American soldiers.
Trump Threatens War When It Suits Him
That was also one of Obama’s arguments when he deployed forces to Libya in 2011. In that case, it was admittedly part of a NATO mission mandated by the U.N. Security Council. Trump, in contrast, sees no need to explain himself internationally. His Pentagon is called the “Department of War,” and when it suits him, he threatens war, whether in Venezuela or Nigeria.
Congress will not get a hold on such lust for power using a law that essentially no president in the last 50 years has honored. Still, at least a few Republicans are actually objecting to the president’s overreach. They won’t rein him in, though.
While helping on the campaign trail in Virginia, Barack Obama expressed concerns shared by America’s allies. “Every day this White House offers people a fresh batch of lawlessness and recklessness and mean-spiritedness and just plain craziness” under Donald Trump. Obama does not say, however, whether he regrets having pushed some boundaries himself in his struggle with Congress, boundaries that Trump is now blithely pushing further.
This includes, for instance, the commander in chief’s obligation under the War Powers Act of 1973 to secure authorization from elected representatives no later than 60 days before continuing military “hostilities.” Trump does not want to do this in his lethal fight against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean — after all, the drone attacks do not pose any threat to American soldiers.
Trump Threatens War When It Suits Him
That was also one of Obama’s arguments when he deployed forces to Libya in 2011. In that case, it was admittedly part of a NATO mission mandated by the U.N. Security Council. Trump, in contrast, sees no need to explain himself internationally. His Pentagon is called the “Department of War,” and when it suits him, he threatens war, whether in Venezuela or Nigeria.
Congress will not get a hold on such lust for power using a law that essentially no president in the last 50 years has honored. Still, at least a few Republicans are actually objecting to the president’s overreach. They won’t rein him in, though.
Previous article![]( "War of Extermination Continues Despite Ceasefire Agreement")