A deepening war of words over Iran has triggered warnings from military experts that US troops could face the extraordinary prospect of refusing 'unlawful orders', as Donald Trump's escalating rhetoric begins to fracture his own political base. What started as another pointed broadside against Tehran has quickly morphed into a wider argument over the limits of presidential power, the duties of those in uniform, and how far campaign-style threats can go before colliding with constitutional red lines.
The president's warning that Iranian actions could lead to the destruction of 'civilisation' has not only escalated tensions abroad but ignited fierce debate at home. Some legal scholars and former military officials now caution that extreme directives, if issued, would raise serious constitutional and legal questions. The controversy has also exposed growing divisions within Trump's MAGA coalition, with prominent allies breaking ranks.
