Seth Meyers implores Congress to stop 'deranged' Trump from unilaterally waging war
President Trump brought the United States to the "brink of a disastrous war with Iran," Seth Meyers said on Wednesday's Late Night, and now it's up to Congress to make sure he doesn't trigger another unnecessary conflict.
Despite what Trump and his allies are trying to say, the crisis between the U.S. and Iran "was completely Trump's doing," Meyers said. In response to Trump authorizing an airstrike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Iran on Tuesday launched missiles at Iraqi air bases housing U.S. troops. As Americans watched footage of the missiles streaking through the sky, waiting to see how Trump would react, "you think, 'God, I hope we have smart and steady leadership,'" Meyers said. "Then you say, 'Oh no.'"
On Wednesday, Trump gave an "incoherent" speech claiming "credit for ending a crisis he started." He made threats, then offered peace, all while making sure to absurdly and falsely blame former President Barack Obama for the current tense state of affairs. Presidents of both parties have been accumulating unconstitutional war powers, Meyers said, but Trump sees himself as being above the law, and that's why now is the time for lawmakers to step up.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Congress has to stop Trump from unilaterally waging a war or triggering another conflict like this again, and can "pass a war powers resolution, block war funding, and repeal both Bush-era authorizations for the use of military force," Meyers said. "They can even keep Trump distracted by tying a chicken nugget to a Roomba and letting it loose in the White House." Watch the video below. Catherine Garcia
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
North Carolina Supreme Court risks undermining its legitimacy
Under the radar A contentious legal battle over whether to seat one of its own members threatens not only the future of the court's ideological balance, but its role in the public sphere
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Codeword: January 14, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: January 14, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Jimmy Carter honored in state funeral, laid to rest
Speed Read The state funeral was attended by all living presidents
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sentenced after Supreme Court rejection
Speed Read Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three liberal justices in the majority
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
DOJ to release half of Trump special counsel report
Speed Read The portion regarding Trump's retention of classified documents will not be publicly released
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Jimmy Carter lies in state as 3-day DC farewell begins
Speed Read The 39th president died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Giuliani held in contempt of court over forfeit assets
Speed Read He has failed to turn over $11 million in assets to two Georgia election workers he defamed after the 2020 election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden resettles 11 more Guantánamo detainees
Speed Read In an effort to reduce the number of prisoners held in Guantánamo Bay, Biden transferred 11 Yemeni detainees to Oman
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Canada's Trudeau announces resignation
Speed Read Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down after nearly a decade in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden signs boost to Social Security for public workers
Speed Read The president signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, expanding retirement benefits for millions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published