Fact check: What are the differences between Trumps first-term bombings and Obamas bombings during his presidency? And why did these bombings not result in any wars during Trump's first term?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, there are significant differences between Trump's and Obama's bombing campaigns, though both presidents engaged in extensive military operations:

Scale and Intensity:

Trump dramatically escalated the use of air power compared to Obama. According to the data, Trump dropped approximately 20,650 bombs through July 31 of his presidency, which represents 80% of the number dropped under Obama in 2016 alone ^[1]. In terms of drone strikes specifically, Trump far exceeded Obama's numbers with 238 drone strikes in Yemen, Somalia, and Pakistan during his first two years, compared to 186 during Obama's first two years ^[2].

Operational Differences:

The most notable tactical difference was in Syria, where Trump authorized a strike against a Syrian government airbase, whereas Obama sought congressional approval to strike Assad's regime but never received it ^[3]. However, Trump continued Obama's bombing campaign against ISIS ^[3].

Transparency and Accountability:

Both administrations faced criticism regarding transparency, but Trump made the drone program more secretive compared to Obama's approach ^{[1] [2]}. Obama's administration acknowledged civilian deaths in drone strikes and made efforts to prevent such deaths ^[4], though critics argued this acknowledgment was insufficient, particularly regarding the lack of acknowledgement and compensation for non-Western victims ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question contains several important gaps in context:

Historical Precedent:

The analyses reveal that Obama's drone program was already ten times more extensive than Bush's ^[6], indicating that Trump inherited and then escalated an already significant bombing campaign rather than initiating one from scratch.

Civilian Casualties:

A critical missing element is the discussion of civilian casualties. The sources indicate that Trump increased civilian casualties along with the increased number of strikes ^[1], while Obama's administration at least acknowledged civilian deaths and attempted prevention measures ^[4].

Geographic Scope:

The question focuses on whether bombings led to wars, but doesn't address the geographic scope. The data shows operations in Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, and Syria under both administrations, suggesting ongoing military engagement across multiple theaters regardless of whether they constituted "wars" in the traditional sense.

Definitional Issues:

The question assumes a clear distinction between "bombings" and "wars," but the analyses suggest continuous military operations that blur these categories. Both presidents engaged in sustained military campaigns that could be characterized as ongoing conflicts.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains several potentially misleading premises:

False Premise About War Avoidance:

The question suggests Trump's bombings "did not result in any wars," but this ignores that Trump continued Obama's bombing campaign against ISIS ^[3] and actually escalated air power usage ^[1]. The distinction between "bombings" and "wars" appears artificial when considering the sustained nature of these operations.

Incomplete Framing:

By focusing solely on whether bombings led to "wars," the question overlooks the significant escalation in bombing intensity and frequency under Trump. The data shows Trump conducted military operations at a much higher rate than Obama ^[2], making the premise that his approach was less militaristic questionable.

Selective Comparison:

The question implies a favorable comparison for Trump regarding war avoidance, but fails to acknowledge that Trump made the drone program more secretive ^{[1] [2]} and increased civilian casualties ^[1], potentially making his approach more problematic from a humanitarian and transparency perspective.

Temporal Bias:

The question focuses only on Trump's "first term," which may create an incomplete picture since it doesn't account for the full scope of consequences that military actions can have over longer time periods.