Ten reasons why Iran could go badly for Trump

The decision was absolutely, unreservedly the right one.

Israel and America’s decision to move against the Iranian regime, that is. For decades, Iran’s Islamist leaders have murdered and brutalized their own people - and exported terror all around the globe.

So the decision to take action was the right one, and it was overdue. But make no mistake: the Israel-America-Iran conflict is likely to become very unpopular, very soon. Ten reasons.

1. Leadership. Donald Trump is the most-reviled US president in decades, perhaps ever. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been deeply unpopular. Even when these two men do the right thing - as in Iran - their decisions are regarded with suspicion and cynicism. That may not be fair, but nobody ever said politics is fair.

2. Polls. Even before Israel and America effectively declared war on Iran, Americans were opposed. A CBS poll found a majority, 53 per cent, were against taking military action against Iran - even to prevent the regime from obtaining nuclear weapons. Now, more - almost 60 per cent - oppose the conflict, CNN found. As casualties and costs mount, the polls will almost certainly get worse.

3. Regime change. Trump has said his goal is regime change. But regime change has never been possible from one mile up, using a fighter jet. Military analysts say regime change needs boots on the ground, long term. Trump has sworn that won’t happen. So, the war will continue.

4. Broken promise. Trump, however, promised to never do precisely what he has done here - wage war on Iran. In November 2024, he told his supporters: “I’m not going to start a war. I’m going to stop wars.” For years, Trump has effectively campaigned as a pro-peace politician - saying the Iraq war, for example, was “a big, fat mistake.” For his base, Trump’s newfound hawkishness represents a massive flip-flop: it simply isn’t what he promised, and American voters know it.

5. MAGA. Make America Great Again is one of the most successful political movements in modern political history. MAGA took a controversial reality-show host with no political experience, and made him president, twice. MAGA’s core principle has always been “America first” - and no more foreign wars. MAGA icons are accordingly very unhappy - like Marjorie Taylor-Greene, who this weekend tweeted: “This is NOT freeing the Iranian people!!! This is murdering their children!!! WTF are you insane people doing??? AMERICA DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS!!!”

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