Roosevelt spoke softly. Trump does not. Now he’s shown he’ll follow through | Opinion

It’s tempting to think of the Trump Doctrine as a modern-day version of Theodore Roosevelt’s “big stick” diplomacy. But there’s one key difference.

President Roosevelt spoke softly. President Donald Trump does not.

President Trump broadcasts. He threatens. And now, he’s shown he’s willing to follow through.

Peace requires strength, and President Trump made the right call by ordering the recent strike against Iran’s nuclear sites. An Iran armed with nuclear weapons would destabilize the Middle East, embolden extremist groups, threaten global energy markets and place American allies — especially Israel — under a direct and existential threat.

Perhaps Tehran believed the “Trump Always Chickens Out” meme that went viral on social media in recent weeks. Perhaps Tehran mistook “America First” for isolationism. Whatever the case, Tehran apparently did not expect the United States to act.

I’m reminded of President Ronald Reagan’s words in 1986, after ordering airstrikes against Libya, when he said of Moammar Gadhafi, “He counted on America to be passive. He counted wrong.”

Regardless of whether the June 21 strikes set Iran’s nuclear ambitions back a few months or several years, President Trump reasserted American leadership and made it clear that our commitments to peace and global security are backed by action.

The truth is, the Trump Doctrine probably more closely resembles “The Godfather” strategy than traditional diplomacy. “The Don” made Iran an offer it couldn’t refuse, and when Iran hesitated, he struck. In doing so, he left some speculating that he didn’t just target Iran but that he sent a deliberate, calculated message to the world: Take his deals seriously or face the consequences.

Perhaps that’s why a majority of Americans remain uneasy.

According to a CNN poll in the days after the strike, 56% of the 1,030 U.S. adults who were surveyed disapproved of the strikes, and 55% said they do not trust President Trump’s judgment much or at all when it comes to the use of force against Iran. The poll split sharply on partisan lines, with Republicans expressing more confidence in the president.

Unlike Reagan, who laid out his reasoning after bombing Libya, Trump used his address to the nation after the bombing he ordered to boast that Iran’s “enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated” but not to explain why military action was necessary now.

The threat of a nuclear Iran has loomed for decades. Tehran has crossed red lines time and again. If this decision was driven by new intelligence, an imminent threat, or a shift in Iran’s nuclear capabilities, then that case should be made — to both Congress and the public.

The fact that Congress was not involved in the strike raises serious constitutional concerns.

The Constitution deliberately vests the power to declare war in Congress — not the president. The Founders understood the dangers of concentrating such authority in the hands of one individual, associating it with monarchies. Having lived under British tyranny, they understood the cost of unchecked executive authority.

What the Founding Fathers likely never imagined was elected officials treating the president not as a public servant, but as a figure to be blindly worshipped. In the aftermath of the strike on Iran, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Georgia, rushed to declare Trump worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize and South Carolina’s Nancy Mace, who represents the Charleston area, to crown him the greatest president in American history.

Consequential? Sure. Transformative? Definitely. But the greatest? Let’s get serious.

George Washington set the standard. He led a revolution, established the powerful presidency and voluntarily gave it up. Abraham Lincoln preserved the union through a civil war. Ronald Reagan reignited American pride while delivering prosperity and restoring global leadership.

It’s time for congressional Republicans to stop sucking up to Trump, abandon the idol worship and do their job. The Constitution is not a formality. It’s a safeguard. Congress must reassert its authority and fulfill its duty as a coequal branch of government. Our republic depends on it.

One thing is clear: America cannot afford to retreat into isolationism.

As a beacon of hope for freedom-seeking nations, the United States must be more than a participant in global affairs. We are a defender of democracy, a pillar of stability and a counterweight to tyranny. When America leads with strength and purpose, the world is safer.

This story was originally published June 27, 2025 at 5:00 AM.