Trump struggles with Iran message as Republicans diverge over attack
As the massive size and scope of Israel's overnight attacks on Iran have come into view on Friday, Donald Trump is presented with a major new foreign policy crisis - as well as a diplomatic dilemma.
How does the American president who promised to be a peacemaker handle a dramatic military escalation in the Middle East?
In the hours after the strike, Trump appears to be struggling to find a consistent message in the face of a grave blow to his diplomatic efforts.
Last night, US diplomats reacted coolly to the first reports of the Israeli strikes. While it was clear that American forces had advance notice of what was coming, a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised the US was not involved in the logistics or planning of the attack.
By Friday morning, the president himself was commenting on his Truth Social account, with a sombre message directed at the Iranian leadership – more “I told you so” than a clear plan to stop the warfare.
“Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen,” Trump wrote. “They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!”
He followed that up with a shorter post, noting that the 60-day deadline he had given the Iranians for a deal had expired – but still holding out hope. “Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!” he wrote.
In comments to American media outlets, though, Trump’s message was more muddled.
He told CNN that the US “of course” supports Israel “and supported it like nobody has ever supported it”.
“I think it’s been excellent,” he said of Israel’s strikes in an ABC interview. He added that the US gave Iran a chance, but they didn’t take it. “They got hit about as hard as you’re going to get hit. And there’s more to come – a lot more.”
In another twist, to the Wall Street Journal he said the US received more than just a heads-up from Israel: “We know what’s going on.” He also called Israel’s move “a very successful attack, to put it mildly.”
