Politicians always say what citizens want before elected. Once they win an election and start getting briefings from real intelligence sources their tunes change regularly. Makes them hypocrites and liars, but unfortunately that's the life of politics.
Only reason Obama went to Congress was to make the Republicans responsible if something went south. My guess is his initial plan was for all the Republicans to say no, then he'd attack anyway and make it seem like Democrats are out for the good of the world. He wasn't counting on the Democrat controlled senate or House Democrats voting against him as well. That threw a wrench into his plans so he backed off.
The difference in the golf is Obama played with celebrities and donors. Trump is playing with world leaders and members of congress.
I'm not even going to respond to the Russian ties ridiculousness.