RICH LOWRY: The unauthorized war

President Donald Trump has repeatedly promised the war in Iran will end "soon," but the conflict has persisted into the midterm election cycle, creating political headwinds for Republicans. A recent New York Times/Siena poll shows 65 percent of respondents disapprove of Trump's handling of the war, while nearly 75 percent disapprove of his management of gas prices — issues the commentary describes as closely intertwined.

The piece argues the combination of a drawn-out conflict and elevated domestic costs has damaged the administration's standing, compounded by what it calls a high-handed approach. Trump did not seek congressional authorization for the military action nor make a substantial public case for it beforehand, a departure from the process undertaken by President George W. Bush prior to the Iraq War.

The commentary characterizes Trump's view of representative government as highly personalized, suggesting he sees himself as the sole tribune of the people, rendering Congress an "unnecessary encumbrance." This approach contrasts with his tariff policy, which he campaigned on explicitly in 2024; the Iran war, by comparison, arrived as a "bolt from the blue."

Efforts to insulate the conflict from accountability are noted, including Republican arguments that the engagement does not constitute a "war" and Trump's statement that a renewed major bombing campaign would wait until after the election. The commentary concludes that while a regime change in Iran would be a legacy-defining success, the public cannot be expected to show patience for a conflict it was neither asked about nor informed of in advance.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal