Trump steamrolls Congress as Iran fight escalates

President Donald Trump’s decision to kill a top Iranian commander marks his most unabashed move yet to steamroll Congress on matters of war and peace.

Yet the powerlessness of Capitol Hill is of lawmakers’ own making.

Despite a concerted push from Democrats and a handful of Republicans to reassert congressional authority when it comes to military action abroad, Congress has done little to restrain Trump — or many presidents before him.

The White House gave zero notice to key congressional leaders about the U.S. drone strike on Qassem Soleimani, who led Iran’s elite Quds force, and which followed days of increasing violence in Iraq, including an attack Tuesday against the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wasn’t informed of the airstrike ahead of time and spoke with Defense Secretary Mark Esper only after the strike. She said in a statement that the deadly action “was taken without the consultation of Congress.”