As Americans were consumed by the explosive release of the Epstein files over the weekend, Donald Trump took advantage of the distraction to push through another massive arms deal to Israel — roughly $6 billion in weapons sales — once again circumventing the United States Congress and ignoring established checks on executive power.
According to Haaretz, the Trump administration approved four separate arms sales to Israel, including tactical military vehicles and helicopters, without the customary congressional review required under U.S. law. Senior Democratic officials described the move as a blatant violation of congressional norms, warning that it further erodes legislative authority over foreign military sales and war-related decision-making.
This was not an oversight. It was a calculated maneuver.
By invoking emergency authorities, Trump effectively cut Congress out of the process, silencing debate at a time when U.S. weapons are directly tied to an ongoing and devastating conflict in Gaza. Lawmakers were denied the chance to question how these weapons would be used, whether they comply with U.S. arms export laws, or whether American taxpayers should be underwriting further military escalation.
A senior Democratic official told Haaretz that Trump “refuses to engage Congress on critical questions about the next steps in Gaza,” underscoring a pattern of deliberate avoidance of accountability. This mirrors Trump’s previous use of emergency declarations to force arms deals through despite bipartisan objections, humanitarian concerns, and warnings from international observers.
The timing is impossible to ignore. While the country argued over Epstein, Trump moved billions in weapons behind closed doors. No hearings. No votes. No transparency.
Critics argue this reflects a broader strategy: bury controversial foreign policy decisions under moments of national distraction, then claim executive authority as a shield against scrutiny. The result is a presidency that treats Congress as an inconvenience and the public as an afterthought.
The deal also raises serious legal and ethical questions. U.S. arms export laws are designed to prevent weapons from being used in ways that violate human rights or international law. By bypassing Congress, Trump ensured those questions would not be asked — let alone answered.
At stake is more than a single arms package. This episode highlights a dangerous precedent: a president unilaterally funneling billions in weapons into an active conflict while evading oversight, all while the public’s attention is diverted elsewhere.
As global pressure mounts and civilian casualties continue to rise, the $6 billion arms transfer stands as yet another example of executive power exercised without restraint, transparency, or democratic consent.
The question now is not just why the deal was approved — but why it was done quietly, and who benefits from Americans not paying attention.
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