He's flailing.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-public-bravado-private-fear-59814dca
The Wall Street Journal article “Behind Trump’s Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples With His Own Fears” describes a sharp contrast between Donald Trump’s publicly aggressive, confident rhetoric about the Iran war and his private anxiety, hesitation, and inconsistency behind the scenes.
Here are the main points in plain terms:
1) Public toughness vs. private fear
- Publicly, Trump projects strength—issuing threats, ultimatums, and bold claims about victory.
- Privately, the article says he is deeply worried about the consequences of escalation, especially:
- U.S. troop casualties
- Political fallout (including comparisons to past failures like the Iran hostage crisis)
- He has hesitated to approve certain military actions because of these risks.
2) Erratic and improvised decision-making
- Trump often makes major statements without consulting advisers, including dramatic social media threats.
- His approach swings between:
- Escalation (threats, aggressive rhetoric)
- Pullback (seeking ceasefires or exits from the conflict)
- Aides are sometimes concerned about his unpredictability and try to manage information around him.
3) Desire to end the war—but without a clear plan
- Despite tough talk, he is described as eager to bring the conflict to an end.
- Some of his extreme statements are portrayed as negotiating tactics meant to pressure Iran.
- However, the article suggests there is no consistent strategy for how to finish the war, contributing to confusion among allies and officials.
4) Distracted and inconsistent focus
- The report portrays a president who is not fully focused on wartime leadership, sometimes shifting attention to:
- Domestic politics and fundraising
- White House renovation projects
- This adds to a sense of a disjointed, uneven response to the crisis.
5) Strained relationships and limited support
- Allies like European countries are reluctant to fully back the U.S. effort.
- Trump is described as frustrated with allies and increasingly isolated in decision-making.
Bottom line
The article’s core argument is that Trump’s leadership during the war is defined by a gap between image and reality:
- Image: bold, decisive, willing to take risks
- Reality: cautious, worried about costs, and often improvising
It paints a picture of a presidency under pressure, where fear of consequences and desire for control collide with a need to appear strong.
He's a doddering old fool who's in way over his head.
@franz-znarf Iran not being able to export or import goods isn't a strength or some great bargain. It's desperation.
The rhetoric suggests everyone's getting desperate. Iran can certainly hold out for a couple more weeks (and really much longer). Judging by the disastrous PR to date, this admin is gonna have a tough time making its case (and will prob look like dog water doing it). They're really expecting every last GOPer in Congress to fall on their swords for this? To condone the faulty premise? the abysmal messaging? That's a tall ask from people who've already been under duress carrying the admin's water on Russia-Ukraine, NATO, Greenland, tariff stuff. Americans are starting to think about Memorial Day but, man, those friggin gas prices. The markets will start voting again tomorrow morning too.
Look we need to live reality. The U.S. isn't desperate. Markets hit all time highs on Fridays and all the "experts" predicting 200 dollar oil and blah blah have been wrong. You're going to pay an extra dollar or so for gas, which is still less than what you paid during parts of Obama and Biden's terms. It's not enough of a price shock to stall the economy. The economy should still hum along.
If the price of oil was 200 bucks a barrel, 10 year nearing 5%, and the market was down 15-20% I'd agree with you, but none of those things have happened.
The Iran-Iraq war lasted eight years. Iran has to figure there’s a reason Trump and Israel wanted a ceasefire. Trump’s getting frustrated and desperate. He knows he’s threatening war crimes and cares about his legacy. He’s already spent billions on Israel’s war and isn’t close to acquiring one mote of uranium dust. China has Iran’s back. All they need to do is survive and the US war weariness will end the war. So Iran is calling Trump’s bluff without egging him on or blatantly provoking him.@franz-znarf Iran not being able to export or import goods isn't a strength or some great bargain. It's desperation.
Trump is screwed no matter ehat he decides to do and Iran knows it.
Liberals really will believe anything. Cool story.
@franz-znarf Iran not being able to export or import goods isn't a strength or some great bargain. It's desperation.
The rhetoric suggests everyone's getting desperate. Iran can certainly hold out for a couple more weeks (and really much longer). Judging by the disastrous PR to date, this admin is gonna have a tough time making its case (and will prob look like dog water doing it). They're really expecting every last GOPer in Congress to fall on their swords for this? To condone the faulty premise? the abysmal messaging? That's a tall ask from people who've already been under duress carrying the admin's water on Russia-Ukraine, NATO, Greenland, tariff stuff. Americans are starting to think about Memorial Day but, man, those friggin gas prices. The markets will start voting again tomorrow morning too.
Look we need to live reality. The U.S. isn't desperate. Markets hit all time highs on Fridays and all the "experts" predicting 200 dollar oil and blah blah have been wrong. You're going to pay an extra dollar or so for gas, which is still less than what you paid during parts of Obama and Biden's terms. It's not enough of a price shock to stall the economy. The economy should still hum along.
If the price of oil was 200 bucks a barrel, 10 year nearing 5%, and the market was down 15-20% I'd agree with you, but none of those things have happened.
That's a stump speech. Arguments like "it could be worse" and "not as bad as the other guys" aren't reality. This admin is absolutely desperate to put this behind them. That's why they keep on claiming victory while fumbling the actual deal. Promises re: foreign entanglements, energy independence, cost of living were made.
Also, 200 a barrel is your rubicon?!? Bipartisan impeachment hearings would begin promptly at 130.
This admin is doing stupid stuff re: Iran but they aren't underestimating the nation's vibe like I think you are.
@franz-znarf Iran not being able to export or import goods isn't a strength or some great bargain. It's desperation.
The rhetoric suggests everyone's getting desperate. Iran can certainly hold out for a couple more weeks (and really much longer). Judging by the disastrous PR to date, this admin is gonna have a tough time making its case (and will prob look like dog water doing it). They're really expecting every last GOPer in Congress to fall on their swords for this? To condone the faulty premise? the abysmal messaging? That's a tall ask from people who've already been under duress carrying the admin's water on Russia-Ukraine, NATO, Greenland, tariff stuff. Americans are starting to think about Memorial Day but, man, those friggin gas prices. The markets will start voting again tomorrow morning too.
Look we need to live reality. The U.S. isn't desperate. Markets hit all time highs on Fridays and all the "experts" predicting 200 dollar oil and blah blah have been wrong. You're going to pay an extra dollar or so for gas, which is still less than what you paid during parts of Obama and Biden's terms. It's not enough of a price shock to stall the economy. The economy should still hum along.
If the price of oil was 200 bucks a barrel, 10 year nearing 5%, and the market was down 15-20% I'd agree with you, but none of those things have happened.
That's a stump speech. Arguments like "it could be worse" and "not as bad as the other guys" aren't reality. This admin is absolutely desperate to put this behind them. That's why they keep on claiming victory while fumbling the actual deal. Promises re: foreign entanglements, energy independence, cost of living were made.
Also, 200 a barrel is your rubicon?!? Bipartisan impeachment hearings would begin promptly at 130.
This admin is doing stupid stuff re: Iran but they aren't underestimating the nation's vibe like I think you are.
I was providing some objective measurements that would need to happen for the administration to become desperate to end the war. You're probably right, 200 is high, call it 150. My point was I'd agree with you if those things start happen.
WTF are we even doing at this point?
If those of us in this thread are still around 30 or so years from now I fear we will long for these days where the amoral spasticity of a narcissistic POTUS was viewed as the most important problem du jour. I worry more that automation and AI eventually coalesces power into the hands of a small number of large corporations and oligarchs, bringing the failed/failing governments (nations small, large & superpower alike) and the increasingly disenfranchised citizenry to heel under their banners.
Oh how we'll laugh about the good old days...right before they carry us away.
Remember folks...
A good friend will bail you out of jail, but your best friend will be sitting next to you in the cell saying "that was f***ing awesome"
If only Trump had kept his "America First" promise.
The doddering old fool's shifting goals, erratic messaging including bizarre (and false) declarations of the war's end, and questionable decision-making in connection with the war are further evidence that he's in way over his head and a piss-poor CIC.
Oil claws back losses as Strait of Hormuz is closed again | Reuters
WTF are we even doing at this point?
No one fucking knows. Trump is literally flailing and flopping like a fish, with no discernible rhyme or reason. He's conducting foreign policy like he did the tariffs, jumping from hot to cold and points in between. "Goals" and "accomplishments" change by whim, with overnight posting benders taking the place of sane and sober policy discussions with advisors, Congress, and the American people.
As I've mentioned before, the best we can hope for is a return to the status quo ante that Obama achieved.
WTF are we even doing at this point?
No one fucking knows. Trump is literally flailing and flopping like a fish, with no discernible rhyme or reason. He's conducting foreign policy like he did the tariffs, jumping from hot to cold and points in between. "Goals" and "accomplishments" change by whim, with overnight posting benders taking the place of sane and sober policy discussions with advisors, Congress, and the American people.
As I've mentioned before, the best we can hope for is a return to the status quo ante that Obama achieved.
The best part is, if and when Trump is able to find some kind of a deal that even approximates what Obama achieved, posters like CO.H will laud him for it, and try to invent reasons why it is better than anything the Democrats ever accomplished.
The best part is, if and when Trump is able to find some kind of a deal that even approximates what Obama achieved, posters like CO.H will laud him for it, and try to invent reasons why it is better than anything the Democrats ever accomplished.
If that's the way the cookie eventually crumbles I'm not sure he'd have to work too hard at it. I reckon he'd point out that ass kicking them into a deal is better than ass kissing them into one, and having 1.5 fewer Supreme Leaders in the line of succession doesn't hurt either.
A good friend will bail you out of jail, but your best friend will be sitting next to you in the cell saying "that was f***ing awesome"
Great public relations, IDF. 🙄
Destroying a sculpture is serious misconduct to be dealt with, killing innocent Palestinians, a clerical error.Great public relations, IDF. 🙄
Verbatim what has been echoing through Trump’s hollow mental chambers since Day Two of the Iran War.WTF are we even doing at this point?
Trump muttering to himself, translated into hoosier dialect: “Done fucked up.”