Judging Freedom COL. Douglas Macgregor : Trump and the Constitution.
Sep 4, 2025
Douglas Macgregor, a retired US Army Colonel and military strategist, dives deep into the ethical dilemmas surrounding aerial strikes and their legal implications. He critiques Trump's foreign policy and discusses the importance of grassroots movements for financial stability and law enforcement reform. Macgregor also explores the relationship between presidential power and war, questioning how modern leaders interpret constitutional limits. Lastly, he analyzes the political ramifications of the Ukraine war on European leaders and the potential for upheaval.
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Presidency Has Eroded Congressional War Power
- Since Eisenhower, presidents have largely ignored Congress's war-declaring authority by exploiting broadly worded emergency powers.
- Douglas Macgregor says the Gulf of Tonkin resolution set a precedent for executive-led military action without clear congressional war declarations.
Political Framing Can Manufacture War
- Macgregor argues Congress can declare war without an actual national security threat by politically reframing issues as threats.
- Historical examples like the Spanish-American War and WWI show political motives often trumped clear military necessity.
Air Power Lowers Political Cost Of Intervention
- Air power became politically attractive because it promised effects with low visible U.S. casualties, encouraging frequent use.
- Macgregor warns this creates temptation to bomb without clear political-military objectives and neglects collateral damage and effectiveness.
