Former President Donald Trump was quick to frame the event as decisive and extraordinary, praising what he called a “brilliant” operation carried out by American forces. His description evoked speed, surprise, and overwhelming force: helicopters cutting through the night, rapid entry, a regime leader removed before resistance could coalesce. The tone was triumphant, bordering on cinematic.
There was no prior public notice to Congress. No clear articulation of authorization. No shared explanation of jurisdiction or legal basis. What was presented as a single operation appeared, on closer inspection, to be an intersection of military power, law enforcement claims, and political theater — each advancing faster than verification. Continue reading…
