[krapp]

>He wants to use the pretense of war to subvert any checks against his power.

What checks to his power?

The US is already in a state of emergency, one magically extended into infinity by the legislative branch redefining what a "day" is. The Alien Enemies act has already been used to justify Trump's mass deportation program as a war against the "invasion" of the US by immigrants, and that continues despite pushback from the courts, because Trump has declared openly that he doesn't consider himself bound by the courts.

And given what he's already gotten away with, his thesis seems to be correct. He isn't going to seek the pretense because he knows he doesn't need to.

[spuz]

Even if Trump does not respect the view of the courts, some of those working under him do. They can be held liable if they proceed to violate a court order. If they can be given a legal justification for the orders they are given, it makes it a easier to make them comply with the orders.

But even if those working under him are faultlessly loyal, that doesn't mean the rest of the population is. Trump knows that even his base won't tolerate behaviour that is blatently illegal (such as running for a 3rd term) unless there is some kind of legal justification such as an emergency war situation. This is what I believe this is all in aide of.