Trump's war in Iran marks the culmination of his imperial presidency | Mohamad Bazzi

"Trump demolished the White House's East Wing and is overseeing plans to replace it with an enormous ballroom; the National Park Service designated the president's birthday as a free-admission day at national parks; and the US treasury is poised to issue $1 coins featuring Trump's image to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America's independence later this year."

"By plunging the US into an open-ended war against Iran, Trump has reached the zenith of his imperial ambitions. This war is the culmination of Trump's lawlessness since he returned to office: he deployed troops into American cities, gutted federal agencies, ordered the US military to attack civilian boats in the Caribbean sea, and used law enforcement to punish his political enemies all with little resistance from Congress or the supreme court."

"Trump has also launched a relentless campaign of self-aggrandizement, plastering his name and face on government buildings, including the Kennedy Center and the US Institute of Peace."

Trump has pursued an aggressive expansion of presidential power since returning to office, engaging in extensive self-promotion by placing his name and image on government buildings, national parks, and currency. His administration has demolished the White House East Wing to build a ballroom and designated his birthday as a national parks free-admission day. Beyond symbolic gestures, Trump has deployed troops in American cities, dismantled federal agencies, ordered military attacks on civilian vessels, and used law enforcement against political opponents. His initiation of an open-ended war against Iran represents the culmination of this imperial presidency, exceeding actions of modern predecessors. This expansion of power has occurred with minimal resistance from Congress or the Supreme Court, reflecting a broader collapse of governmental accountability and checks on executive authority.

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