President Donald Trump is finding himself in a very difficult situation in Iran. He thought perhaps that after an easy Commander in Chief excursion in Venezuela and, before a similar planned use of United States armed forces in Cuba, he would join Israel and make a brief war on Iran.
The miscalculation is characteristic of a type of leadership that projects a loud and noisy notion of winning and comes away losing or worse. This time the negative effects include not only the diminishing of America’s image and credibility at home and abroad but also unleashed very challenging circumstances for the world.
In Iran, Trump’s use of the economic and political power of the presidency had a slant that sought to vindicate personal views. What started almost as a private adventure with no input from America’s traditional allies has become an intractable affair that promises more strife.
President Trump sold himself to the American people as a businessman that can cure the economic and political ills of the country in as little as 24 hours. He featured the “Art of the Deal,” especially that displayed in “The Apprentice” television series among other important evidence of his skill set.
His ability to out-talk his opponents and the reality of particular situations glosses over the fact that he had six bankruptcies and left many other investors holding the bag. Yet, he was able to overcome that because he convinced the banks that his business was too big to fail.
In the political arena, that type of recklessness is interpreted by his core supporters as the trappings of a powerful person that is decisive as well as one-sided to their benefit. That image and style is seen in his exaggerated claims, his overreaches, his openness to corruption and his predilection for personal power over people and institutions, particularly those committed to the rule of law.
Trump’s ability to divide people and favor one group over another together with a poor response to the COVID pandemic during his first term led in part to losing his reelection bid. However, he did not accept his election loss, inspired followers to storm the capitol and for four years ran for President on the theme of a 2020 election rigged against him.
Although he was convicted of 34 criminal counts on May 30, 2024 and indicted on many more, Donald Trump managed to portray himself as a victim of the Deep State and with the support of the Republican Party and the help of Independents won the 2024 election for President.
Aside from extending the tax cuts for the rich, President Trump has featured a major role for himself in the international community by attempting to alter the economic order using tariffs and bringing back the practice of gunboat diplomacy. The intervention of the courts has generally neutralized the tariff agenda and the armed forces are magnificently winning battle after battle, but the President is losing the war because it is more than about military superiority.
Trump’s history indicates heavy public losses resulting in private gain. He went bankrupt but expanded his wealthy lifestyle.
He lost the presidency and was deemed a criminal yet won a second term. He may be losing the tariff agenda but is fulfilling his anti-immigration effort that reduces the number of people of color in America.
President Trump has highlighted military power in actions to take Venezuela, threaten Greenland and Cuba. His effort to dominate Iran appears to be another matter altogether.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of LaVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed toNews@lavozcolorado.com.
