The last U.S. strikes on Iran, in June, were aimed at curtailing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. This time, Trump went much further, making clear his desire for a change in Iran’s leadership for the first time in 47 years as well as for the elimination of its nuclear and ballistic-missile development programs. He is pursuing that war without congressional approval, with little appetite among his base for another U.S. regime-change operation in the Middle East, and with several allies in the region having discouraged new strikes, fearing a broader conflict. That leaves Trump in a position to claim personal credit for any successful parts of the mission—he said “no president was willing to do what I am doing tonight”—but also singularly associated with whatever happens next in Iran and across the Middle East. He will receive the accolades for whatever goes well, but will also be saddled with the many possible downsides, including U.S. and civilian casualties as well as the instability that could be unleashed if the Iranian regime falls in the face of the American and Israeli onslaught.