Trump claims other presidents flouted war powers law. It's a mixed record

Both Bushes and Reagan won authorisation for wars, but Obama and Clinton ducked the requirement.

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As a critical two-month deadline for the war expired on Friday, Trump said his predecessors considered Congress' authority to limit a president's war powers as "totally unconstitutional".

"So many presidents, as you know, have gone and exceeded it," Trump said when asked if he would seek congressional authorisation.

"It's never been used. It's never been adhered to."

"Nobody's ever asked for it before," Trump added.