Just when we took Trump at his word, that Iran would face consequences if in two weeks they didn’t cease attacks against Israel after two weeks, he makes a shocking announcement – a bombing strike carried out by U.S. Armed Forces on his orders, against Iran’s nuclear sites.
This is results-based, Trump-branded foreign policy at its finest. He’s not messing around. With Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Senator Marco Rubio, who also holds the title of Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Trump announced at the White House that this strike was successful. Prior to this, Trump had given no indication that such a move was even in the works because it was a secret. That sneaky bastard.
According to the administration, this was a covert, precision air strike with a narrow purpose of decapitating Iran’s nuclear capacity. It was not an official act of war. The night-time strike was Trump’s way of weakening Iran’s combative posture. Trump’s decisive action, kept top secret until its resounding success, was probably to pull the world back an inch from everyone’s favorite dreaded sequel to humanity’s ongoing trilogy of world conflicts. While that’s speculative, it’s also not outside reason as far as theories go, for in the middle of the world’s pressure cooker, nuclear-capable Iran shares dead-center with Israel. With Taiwan and Ukraine as the other two hair-trigger hot zones because of their neighboring antagonists China and Russia, Iran got addressed first to cool off the region and bring Israel lasting relief.
This strike, just months into his second, non-consecutive term, further cements Trump as a historically uniquely dynamic president, taking immediate action for the best results. Given the timing and results of this attack, it stands to reason that, to avoid a world conflict, Trump will act, if and when the remaining hot zone regions push the world to the brink of times like that prior to the signed surrender of Japan on the USS Missouri.
Trump’s actions set him apart from previous administrations. Unlike George W. Bush, whose family was deeply tied to politics, and Barack Hussein Obama, who hardly set foot ever in the private sector, Trump became president after achieving long-term celebrity status in the business and entertainment industries. His no-nonsense approach to deal-making on television and empire building entertained and inspired millions. If he doesn’t have a gold toothbrush, he owns the company that makes the toothbrush. Trump is a high-energy, non-stop entrepreneur who cares about assets and growing wealth.
But unlike his compatriots in the world of opulent wealth and headline drama, Trump doesn’t let public opinion determine his response. He’s got the commanding presence to flip public opinion through results. Having crossed the divide from celebrity billionaire to politician and won in the 2016 presidential election, before wading through legal law-fare bombardments leading up to the 2024 election, Trump has shown his thick skin regarding public opinion by winning the confidence of the American people in November, becoming the 47th president of the United States, promising peace and no war during this term.
Of course, avoiding all wars during his second term remains a tall order no smart politician would promise. But Trump’s cleaning the blood of his sword after a slice across Iran’s nuclear sites. If there’s anyone with the authority to steer America clear of overseas conflict and the commitment to see it through, it’s the man who nearly got assassinated, waded through seemingly endless legal battles, and ran a powerful campaign, resonating with voters, to win the election.
Since he took office and following the aftermath of this attack, Trump has brought transparency, results, and foreign action to the federal government when nothing of the kind had been seen in decades, if not centuries. Trump is strategic, unpredictable, and provocative, of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Let’s just hope it stays that way for three and a half more years.