Which U.S. President was in office when the Gulf War began?

The story behind the answer

George H. W. Bush was president when the Gulf War began. After Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, Bush (in office 1989–1993) led a broad international coalition and secured U.N. resolutions demanding Iraqi withdrawal. When diplomacy failed, Operation Desert Storm— the combat phase— began on January 17, 1991, under his command.

To remember: H comes before W, and the father (George H. W. Bush) led the 1991 Gulf War; the son (George W. Bush) led the 2003 Iraq War. Bush 41’s strategy emphasized coalition-building and limited war aims—expelling Iraq from Kuwait—achieved quickly with advanced air power and a short ground campaign, shaping post–Cold War U.S. military doctrine.