Legal experts doubt Trump’s Iran strikes have constitutional approval

Legal scholars say Trump’s strikes on Iran raise serious constitutional questions: only Congress can declare or authorize war, yet the White House has offered no public justification. DOJ memos cited by supporters argue executive power suffices, but several experts—including Ilya Somin and Steve Vladeck—call the move unconstitutional or highly dubious and warn that what’s framed as a limited action could escalate into a broader conflict. The administration cites Article II authority and past executive actions, but critics say the scale, duration, and potential for prolonged hostilities demand congressional authorization, leaving the legality of the strikes contested and unsettled.