American political analyst Jeff Greenfield asserts that President Donald Trump is gearing up for a war with Iran, but unlike his predecessors, he is not offering the public any justifications for the potential human and financial toll. In an analytical piece published on Politico, Greenfield emphasizes that Trump's current escalation stands in stark contrast to former U.S. presidents, who typically provided various rationales to the public before engaging in significant military operations.

Greenfield cites three former presidents: Franklin Roosevelt, who justified U.S. intervention in World War II by explaining the threat posed by Adolf Hitler; Lyndon Johnson, who sought to justify U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War; and George W. Bush, who offered reasons for the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Each of these presidents aimed to rally public support through clear justifications that linked military action to national interests.

The implications of Trump's unique approach point to a critical shift in U.S. foreign policy, where a lack of public rationale could lead to increased domestic opposition and a challenging international response. The absence of adequate explanations may undermine the administration's legitimacy as it seeks to advance its military agenda against Iran, raising questions about the potential consequences of such a strategy on both regional stability and U.S. political dynamics.