Trump as Commander in Chief

The Peace President?

Trump declared himself to be following an America First policy, which would mean avoiding being drawn into unnecessary foreign conflicts. This was in the tradition of isolationism, which has always been a feature of American politics, particularly on the right.

Trump has also made no secret of his desire to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Attacks on the Houthis

However, Trump, like many presidents before him, has found that as Commander-in-Chief, he has considerable freedom to deploy the military at will. On the 15th of March 2025, President Donald Trump ordered military strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

More aggressive military

President Trump removed the constraints on American commanders to authorize airstrikes and special operations raids outside conventional battlefields, broadening the range of people who can be targeted, according to U.S. officials with knowledge of the policy shift. This is a significant change since dismantling Biden-era mandates and signals a return to more aggressive counterterrorism policies that Trump first instituted in his first term.

'Trump has long seen the military and his command of it as a sign of his own strength and even expressed a sense of ownership over it. During the first term he referred to John Kelly and James Mattis, the retired four-star Marine generals who served in his Cabinet, as “my generals.” Trump allies say time has reinforced that sense and removed any inhibitions, allowing him to expand his role as commander-in-chief even further, whether that’s showing off the military in a parade or using it to quell protests'.

Politico

Attacks on Iran

In June 2025, Donald Trump, as U.S. president, ordered a series of airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—as part of the escalating Iran–Israel war.

The military operation, code-named "Midnight Hammer," was carried out on June 22, 2025, by U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers using GBU-57 "bunker buster" bombs, and Tomahawk missiles fired from a submarine

The U.S. strikes followed a surprise Israeli offensive against Iran on June 13, 2025, and came after the Trump administration had given diplomacy a two-week window to resolve the conflict.

Iran retaliated by firing missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar, causing no casualties, before a ceasefire was announced on June 24, 2025. The strikes prompted significant domestic political debate in the U.S. regarding their constitutionality and effectiveness, with Democrats accusing Trump of violating the Constitution by acting without Congressional approval

Attacks on Venezuela

The United States military began executing airstrikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea in September 2025—positioned by the administration of Donald Trump as a mission to fight maritime drug trafficking in Latin America to the US—and in October. The Trump administration alleged that the vessels were operated by groups it designated as narcoterrorists, including the Venezuelan terrorist organization Tren de Aragua, but has not publicized any evidence for the allegations.

War Crime?

The White House has confirmed that a top US Navy commander ordered a second round of strikes (double tap) on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in September, despite almost destroying it in the first attack. Survivors of the first attack should have been rescued under international law.

The Mexican Border

President Donald Trump sent U.S. troops to the southern border in one of his first actions as commander-in-chief. That he took such an action is not surprising since border security was the central theme of his campaign

Troops in American Cities

As of late 2025, President Trump has ordered the deployment of federal forces, primarily National Guard troops, to several U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Memphis. These actions have sparked significant legal and political controversy.

Details of the Deployments

Washington, D.C.: Hundreds of National Guard members were first deployed in August 2025 to address crime and homelessness, with Trump crediting them with a fall in crime rates. Following a November 2025 shooting that injured (and later killed) two guardsmen, Trump ordered an additional 500 troops to the capital.

Los Angeles, CA: In June 2025, Trump federalized thousands of National Guard troops to respond to protests against immigration raids, overriding Governor Gavin Newsom's objections. A federal judge later ruled this violated the Posse Comitatus Act.

Memphis, TN: Federal law enforcement and a task force incorporating the Tennessee National Guard were deployed in October 2025.

Chicago, IL & Portland, OR: Trump authorized National Guard deployments to these cities in the fall of 2025, citing crime and protests. However, federal judges have temporarily blocked these deployments, citing legal challenges and ruling that the administration's claims of an insurrection were "untethered to the facts".

New Orleans, LA: In December 2025, Trump announced plans to send the National Guard to New Orleans after a request from the state's governor, citing police shortages and crime levels.

Critics argue that these actions go beyond the president's commander-in-chief power. As Commander in Chief the Constitution in Article 2 states the president can direct the military. However, law enforcement tasks like drug enforcement and policing normally fall to agencies such as the Coast Guard or police. The War Powers Resolution also requires consultation with Congress, which has not taken place.