A defensive #Trump called other #NATO countries "cowards" for refusing to help secure the #StraitOfHormuz & insisted the campaign was ‌unfolding according to plan. But his declaration on Friday that the battle "was Militarily WON" clashed with the #reality of a defiant #Iran that is choking off Gulf #oil & #gas supplies while launching missile strikes across the region.

#TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #energy #economy

#Trump, who took office promising to keep the #US out of "stupid" military interventions, now controls neither the outcome nor the messaging of a #war he initiated. The lack of a clear exit strategy carries risks both for his “legacy” & his party's political prospects as #Republicans scramble to defend narrow majorities in #Congress in the November #midterms.

#Iran #TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #energy #economy

…#Trump was caught off-guard by the resistance of fellow #NATO members & other foreign partners to deploying their navies ​to help secure the #StraitOfHormuz, according to a White House official….

With Trump not wanting to appear isolated, some aides have advised ​him to quickly find an "off-ramp" & set limits on the military operation's scope, said one person close to the discussions. But it was unclear whether that argument was enough to sway Trump.

#Iran #TrumpsWar #law #Congress #WarPowers

In the view of some analysts, #allies' unwillingness reflects not only their reluctance over entanglement in a war they were not consulted on, but a backlash against his belittling of traditional #US #alliances since his return to office 14 months ago [ya think?].

Differences with #Israel also have surfaced, with #Trump insisting that he knew nothing in advance about the attack on #Iran's #SouthPars #gas field, while Israeli ​ofcls said the strike had indeed been coordinated with the #US.

#war

…The war has also shown #Trump's once-iron grip over his #MAGA movement is weakening, with prominent influencers speaking out against the #war. While his base has mostly stood with him so far, analysts say that Trump's control could weaken in the coming weeks if gas prices keep rising and #US #troops are deployed.

#Iran #TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #energy #economy

Since the #war's start on Feb 28, there has been a growing realization within the #Trump admin that the conflict & its consequences should have been better mapped out in advance [duh!], according to 2 sources familiar with White House thinking, although the first White House official countered that the campaign was extensively planned ​& well-equipped for any potential action [maybe, just badly].

#Iran #TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #energy #economy

Analysts say Trump's biggest misjudgment was over how #Iran would respond to a #war that it considers existential.

Tehran has retaliated with its remaining missiles & ​a fleet of armed drones to ⁠offset its foes' military superiority, striking neighboring Gulf states & mostly shutting down the #StraitOfHormuz, the conduit for one-fifth of the world's #oil.

#Trump #TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #energy #economy

…As the #war has dragged on, there have ⁠been increasing signs ​of #Trump's frustration with his inability to control the narrative. In recent days, he has torn into the #news #media, advancing unfounded allegations of “treason” for #journalism ​he sees as undermining the war effort.

"He's finding it difficult to drive the news cycle, …because he still can’t explain why he’s taken this country to war & what comes next,” said Brett Bruen, fmr Obama foreign policy adviser….

#Iran #TrumpsWar #law