Trump was right to strike Iran, but he’s going about it the wrong way | Opinion

The strike on Iran was the right call.

Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. It bankrolls Hezbollah. It arms Hamas. It funds militias that have killed American soldiers. It has killed thousands of its own citizens. It chants “Death to America” and it has spent decades threatening to wipe Israel off the map.

Iran simply cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. It would destabilize the entire Middle East, put our allies in the crosshairs, and turn every border dispute into a potential nuclear flashpoint.

While some in MAGA may be angry and feeling betrayed, many traditional Republicans see this differently. America has long been a beacon of hope for freedom seeking people around the world — and that role carries responsibility: to defend our allies, protect free nations, and stand firm when tyranny threatens peace.

Iran has crossed red line after red line under Presidents Obama and Biden, and too often the response has been handwringing and press releases. Peace through strength only works when adversaries believe you’re willing to use it. Trump answered that question — and that kind of resolve makes the world safer in the long run.

Like everything else in the Trump era, it’s not that simple. The strike may have been the right decision, but the way he went about it was wrong.

Trump should have gone to Congress. No one disputes that a president may act swiftly when danger is imminent. But sustained or significant military action requires congressional authorization. On that question, the Founders were unmistakably clear.

And this was not a sudden crisis. The world watched weeks of negotiations with Iran unfold in public. If there was time for diplomacy, there was time to consult Congress.

But accountability doesn’t stop with Congress. It extends to the people.

A few months ago, Trump told Americans the strikes on Iran were a “spectacular military success” and that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “completely and totally obliterated.” He said the program had been pushed back decades.

If the program was obliterated, why are we bombing Iran again?

I think that’s why some Americans are starting to ask if the war in Iran is really an attempt to change the subject from Jeffrey Epstein, the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, or the next wave of bad economic news — a classic “wag the dog” moment.

The explanations that followed have only deepened the confusion. War Secretary Pete Hegseth says the mission is about Iran’s ballistic missiles. Rubio suggested the timing was driven by Israel preparing to strike and fears Iran would retaliate against U.S. forces. Trump insists Israel didn’t force America’s hand and hints that he may have pushed Israel to move sooner.

Three explanations. Three rationales.

And Hegseth is not helping matters. His smug, dismissive attitude toward reporters asking legitimate questions projected pure contempt — for accountability, for the rule of law, and for the Constitution. There’s an old saying in politics: it’s not what you say that matters — it’s what people hear. And right now, many Americans hear arrogance and evasion.

That probably explains why polling suggests nearly 60 percent of Americans oppose the strikes.

Trump should have gone on television Saturday night and addressed the nation. If the action was justified, make the case. If the intelligence was urgent, share it. If the threat was imminent, say so.

Because in America, strength is not diminished by accountability. It is defined by it.

Our republic was built on the simple but radical idea that power must answer to the people. That is why the Founders created checks and balances — the constitutional guardrail that protects liberty and prevents power from resting in the hands of one man. Presidents answer to Congress. Leaders explain their decisions to the citizens they serve.

That is the system generations of Americans fought and died to defend – including those who have already died in this war with Iran.

And it is the system that ensures America remains not just strong, but free.

Matt Wylie is a South Carolina-based Republican political strategist and analyst with more than 25 years of experience working on federal, state and local campaigns.

This story was originally published March 5, 2026 at 11:03 AM with the headline "Trump was right to strike Iran, but he’s going about it the wrong way | Opinion."