EA-US Politics Podcast: Mr Trump Goes to War

Trump considers military strikes on Iran and Mexico in second term

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Donald Trump told the “Mr Trump Goes to War” podcast he is prepared to launch unilateral military action against Iran and drug cartels in Mexico if elected president.

The former president said he would order strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities without congressional approval and send special forces into Mexico to target cartels.

Trump’s remarks mark his most explicit military threats since leaving office and signal a potential expansion of unilateral presidential war powers. Legal scholars said the statements raised questions about constitutional limits on military action.

The podcast comments came during a 45-minute discussion about national security and foreign policy. Trump told hosts he believes the president has authority to attack Iran “whenever necessary” to prevent nuclear weapons development.

“We won’t let them have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple,” Trump said. He added that military action would happen “if we have to do it.”

On Mexico, Trump proposed deploying special operations forces to conduct raids against drug cartels. He compared the strategy to U.S. counterterrorism operations in the Middle East.

“They’re killing 300,000 people a year with their poison,” Trump said, referring to fentanyl deaths. “We have to go in and clean it out.”

Constitutional law experts said Trump’s interpretations exceed established legal precedents. Harvard Law School professor Jack Goldsmith wrote that unilateral attacks on Iran would violate the War Powers Resolution.

The 1973 law requires presidents to notify Congress within 48 hours of military action and withdraw forces within 60 days without congressional approval. Every president since Richard Nixon has argued the law infringes on executive power.

Trump previously ordered the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. Congress responded by passing legislation to limit his war powers, though he vetoed the measure.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani condemned Trump’s threats. “These dangerous statements show the bankrupt nature of American foreign policy,” he told state media.

Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador rejected Trump’s proposal at his daily news conference. “We don’t accept any foreign interference in our territory,” he said.

Defense Department officials speaking anonymously said current contingency plans for Iran emphasize multilateral approaches. They said unilateral strikes could trigger regional war and disrupt global oil supplies.

The podcast marked Trump’s first detailed military policy discussion since announcing his 2024 campaign. He leads Republican primary polls by 40 points according to Reuters polling averages.

Republican foreign policy advisors said Trump’s positions reflect frustration with diplomatic constraints. “He views military power as a first resort, not last resort,” said a former Pentagon official who requested anonymity.

Democratic lawmakers condemned the threats as illegal. Senator Tim Kaine, who sponsors War Powers reform legislation, said Congress would resist unauthorized military action.

“Starting wars without congressional approval violates the Constitution,” Kaine said. He pledged to introduce new restrictions if Trump wins election.

Background

Trump’s military record includes escalating drone strikes and reducing oversight requirements during his presidency. He dropped the “mother of all bombs” in Afghanistan and increased civilian casualties by 330 percent according to Brown University’s Cost of War project.

The former president has consistently argued that shows of force deter adversaries. His administration withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and imposed maximum sanctions despite European objections.

Congressional efforts to reclaim war powers have failed for decades. The House voted to repeal authorizations for Iraq wars in 2021, but Senate action remains pending.

What’s Next

Trump faces trial on federal charges related to the 2020 election while campaigning for president. Republican primary voting begins in Iowa on January 15, with military policy likely to feature in debates.