The War Powers Act has always been debated when presidents initiate military action, and has frankly been ineffective in limiting military actions of Commanders-in-Chief. Presidents of both parties have long asserted the inherent powers to conduct such attacks under their Constitutional authority as the designated Commander-in-Chief. The WPA requires the President to inform Congress within 48 hours in a written notice to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate of the action. Trump has done that.

The WPA further prohibits the use of armed forces in such a conflict for more than 60 days without congressional approval for the use of military force or a declaration of war by the United States. There is a further 30-day withdrawal period. I assume those dates will be respected if the conflict escalates.

Both Clinton (in Kosovo) and Obama (in Libya) invoked the WPA to justify their presidential authority to initiate military actions.

It’s unclear what these blowhards are using as their reason for punishing Trump other than partisan bluster.