Fact check: What are the differences between Trumps latest bombing and Obamas bombings during his presidency? and why has it become a big deal?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, there are several key differences between Trump's and Obama's bombing approaches:

Scale and Intensity:

Trump significantly escalated bombing operations compared to Obama. Trump dropped approximately 20,650 bombs through July 31 of his presidency, which represents 80% of the number Obama dropped in the entire year of 2016 ^[1]. Most notably, Trump may have ordered more attacks in Yemen than all previous US presidents combined, with a significant increase in airstrikes and ground raids, particularly in his first year in office ^[2].

Congressional Authorization:

A critical difference lies in seeking congressional approval. Trump authorized strikes against Syrian government airbases without congressional approval, whereas Obama sought congressional approval before striking Assad's regime ^[3]. This pattern continued with Trump's latest bombing of Iran's nuclear sites, which has been criticized by lawmakers as unconstitutional and lacking Congressional approval ^[4].

Transparency and Accountability:

Obama maintained greater transparency in military operations. The Obama-era policy required the US director of national intelligence to report civilian deaths in drone attacks outside active war zones, which was revoked by Trump ^[5]. Additionally, the US government has been less transparent about its military actions under Trump ^[2].

Targets and Scope:

The nature of targets differed significantly. Obama's drone strikes were primarily used against armed groups in mostly Muslim countries, with a focus on transparency and reporting of civilian casualties ^[6]. In contrast, Trump's latest bombing of Iran's nuclear sites marks a significant escalation in the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, with the US using its most powerful bunker-buster bomb for the first time in combat ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

Civilian Casualties:

The question omits the critical fact that Trump's increase in air power has resulted in unprecedented levels of civilian deaths ^[1]. This represents a significant humanitarian consequence that distinguishes the two presidencies.

Historical Pattern of Presidential War Powers:

Missing from the discussion is the broader context that both Democratic and Republican presidents have unilaterally taken the country to war in the past ^[7]. This suggests the issue extends beyond just Trump and Obama.

Strategic Approach Differences:

The question doesn't address that Trump's approach to foreign policy is often driven by instinct rather than a careful consideration of the potential consequences ^[8], contrasting with Obama's more deliberative approach.

Congressional Consistency:

An important viewpoint missing is that congressional Democrats need to be consistent in their argument for re-establishing the legislature's role in taking the country to war ^[7], suggesting political motivations may influence criticism.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains several potentially misleading framings:

Singular vs. Multiple Actions:

The question refers to "Trump's latest bombing" as if it were a single event, when the analyses show Trump has conducted significantly more bombing operations across multiple countries and timeframes ^{[1] [2]}.

Minimizing Scale:

By asking why it has "become a big deal," the question potentially minimizes the significance of unprecedented levels of civilian deaths ^[1] and the major regional conflict escalation represented by strikes on Iran's nuclear sites ^[6].

False Equivalency:

The question implies a simple comparison between two presidents' bombing policies, but fails to acknowledge the fundamental differences in transparency requirements ^[5], congressional approval processes ^[3], and the unprecedented nature of using the most powerful bunker-buster bomb for the first time in combat ^[6].

Temporal Confusion:

The question's framing suggests recent events, but some analyses reference historical comparisons that may conflate different time periods and military actions across Trump's presidency.