Donald Trump the Megathread part II - Mod Warning added to OP 10/1/26

If the US doesn't care, why are they asking China to speak with Iran?

You must be aware that oil is traded globally and if the straights are closed, it means the price of US oil will also increase worldwide. The US won't be shielded by the price increases, so they the US would care.

I don't think the Iranians pussyfooting on this has done them any favours. When it comes to nuclear politics, maybe it's always going to be a delicate game of brinkmanship, but they'll look back on this and just wish they'd gone for a bomb years ago. As the world tips back to 'might is right' international politics, have a decent stockpile of nukes could be the only way to guarantee your territorial integrity. Look what it's done for North Korea.

The Iranians appear to have little else in the way of hard power, anyway. Their air force looks to be a complete joke.

With the help of the great clueless orange one who is only too happy to stomp on and destroy the contents of the global china shop.

Netanahyu got 28 standing ovations in a joint sitting of the US congress and senate while the IDF were murdering civilians indiscriminately.

I don't believe in a Jewish conspiracy either, but it's hard not to acknowledge that there's a dangerous "promised land" symbiotic relationship betwixt Israel and the USA.

Trump moving the US embassy to Jerusalem during his first term effectively withdrew the US support for any two state solution.

If anything, it's a Christian conspiracy whereby conservative American Christians appear to believe quite strongly in a powerful Israel. I think it was Michael Clarke the other week who said that they believe the final judgement can only occur, and heaven and earth be reunited, when the Jewish people are back in the holy land. He quoted that text that Huckabee sent to Trump about it,

“Mr. President, God spared you in Butler, PA. to be the most consequential President in a century — maybe ever. The decisions on your shoulders I would not want to be made by anyone else. You have many voices speaking to you Sir, but there is only ONE voice that matters. HIS voice. I am your appointed servant in this land and am available for you but I do not try to get in your presence often because I trust your instincts. No President in my lifetime has been in a position like yours. Not since Truman in 1945. I don’t reach out to persuade you. Only to encourage you. I believe you will hear from heaven and that voice is far more important than mine or ANYONE else’s.

You sent me to Israel to be your eyes, ears and voice and to make sure our flag flies above our embassy. My job is to be the last one to leave. I will not abandon this post. Our flag will not come down! You did not seek the moment. This moment sought You! It is my honor to serve you!”

https://www.masslive.com/news/2025/06/terrifying-expletive-trump-shares-text-saying-god-will-direct-him-amid-iran-war.html

I'm sure there are also Jewish businesspeople of a strong and uncompromising Zionist worldview and who have the money to influence political outcomes, but I don't think they're the main thrust of it by any means. And there are also prominent Jewish people who decry what the modern state of Israel does.

Despite a visible movement in the United States that speaks out against the human rights abuses and general crimes of Netanyahu's government, it would appear that the general US public is still considerably more pro-Israel than not. You only have to look at how fractured Kamala Harris's messaging was on her support for Israel, trying to speak out of both sides of her mouth, to see that even the alternative to Trump still had to toe the line on the subject.

I guess we'll see but I read analysis how they've still got a lot of shorter range cruise missiles which could be used to target American bases so they could kick up a fuss yet.

I don't think going for it earlier would have worked. Western intelligence and mossad would have known and if they went for it pre Iraq/Afghanistan America might have pulled the Iraq stunt but on them instead.

It's simple enough.

Trump wants America to have the most weapons, the greatest weapons, more weapons than you've ever seen, nobody has ever had as many weapons than we do, and they are the biggest, so big.

Iran just tried to bomb a US base in Qatar, will MAGA still say the US isn't at war and Trump is the president of peace?

Looks like we're about to find out!

I think that “attack” shows that Iran have been neutered and there won’t be any large scale retaliation /escalation. Trump and the right will be claiming his attack on Iran as a major win.

Invaded by who? Its a country of 92 million people with a terrain nearly entirely composed of mountains or incredibly difficult terrain. Thats 3 times the population as Iraq in 2003, with a landmass also 3 times the size of Iraq and impossible to simply drive across like was possible in the Iraqi desert. Invasion on the scale you are suggesting to enact a military victory, cause a regime change and maintain order is unfeasible.