By Ben Olson
Reader Staff
As news came that President Donald Trump attacked Iran alongside Israel, I readied myself for another remarkable transformation by Republicans as they abandon their yearslong rhetoric about “America first” and Trump being a “peace” president to that of supporting yet another war in the Middle East. Sure enough, it came like clockwork.
Trump’s biggest sycophants posted messages of support for the combat actions, in many cases directly contradicting earlier posts about the topic without a hint of awareness.
As George Orwell wrote in 1984: “Oceania was at war with Eastasia: therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia.”
Because I care about history and facts, here’s a brief rundown of Trump and his legion of ass-kissers on the topic of Iran.
Before he held office, Trump postulated many times that former president Barack Obama would attack Iran as a method to gain favor:
• Jan. 17, 2012:
“@BarackObama will attack Iran in order to get re-elected.”
• Aug. 16, 2012: “I always said @BarackObama will attack Iran, in some form, prior to the election.”
• Oct. 9, 2012: “Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin — watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate.”
• Oct. 22, 2012: “Don’t let Obama play the Iran card in order to start a war in order to get elected–be careful Republicans!”
• Sept. 16, 2013: “I predict that President Obama will at some point attack Iran in order to save face!”
• Sept. 25, 2013: “Remember what I previously said — Obama will someday attack Iran in order to show how tough he is.”
• Nov. 11, 2013: “Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly — not skilled!”
Or how about Trump’s campaign statement in 2020: “We’ve spent $8 trillion in the Middle East and we’re not fixing our roads in this country? How stupid. How stupid is it? And we’re not fixing our tunnels, our bridges, our hospitals, our schools? It’s crazy.”
My thoughts exactly.
Then there is Vice President JD Vance, who, before he held federal office, wrote: “If you want your kid to go and fight in some stupid globalist war, vote for Joe Biden.”
Trump Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller wrote on Nov. 1, 2024: “To anyone still gullible enough to fall for scummy media hoaxes: Trump said warmongering neocons love sending your kids to die for wars they would never fight themselves. Liz Cheney is Kamala’s top adviser. Liz wants to invade the whole Middle East. Kamala = WWIII. Trump = Peace.”
Trump apologist and right-wing activist Laura Loomer’s about-face was blunt. On Nov. 19., 2024 she wrote: “The Democratic Party is the party of war,” followed up on Feb. 25, 2026 with the tweet: “BOMB IRAN.”
Then there’s Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who wrote prior to the 2024 election: “A vote for Kamala Harris is a vote for Dick Cheney and a vote for war, war and more war. A vote for Donald Trump is a vote to end wars, not start them.”
On and on the sycophantic parade goes. Where it stops? Nobody knows.
Trump has now bombed seven countries in less than a year (Iran, Venezuela, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, not to mention the boat strikes in Latin America), which is remarkable for a president who campaigned on keeping the country out of “needless foreign wars.” In classic up-is-down fashion, Trump still claims he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for “ending eight wars in one year.”
Just so everyone is clear on the facts about Iran: Obama already had a nuclear deal with Iran, but Trump discarded it in 2018 during his first term, choosing a “maximum pressure” policy instead. Now he’s saying we’re going to war with Iran to… *checks notes*… get an Iran nuclear deal.
Seven U.S. soldiers have already died so far (that we know of) and Trump acknowledged that “there will likely be more before it ends. That’s the way it is. Likely be more.”
Except it’s not Trump’s kids fighting these wars.
When Trump attended the dignified transfer of slain U.S. soldiers’ remains on March 7, he ignited another bout of criticism for wearing a ridiculous white trucker hat with “USA” emblazened on it and “45-47” on the side while flag-draped coffins passed by containing the remains of servicemembers killed because of military actions he instituted. Removing one’s hat is widely considered a sign of respect and honor, in case everyone has forgotten.
Instead of airing this footage, Fox News decided to dig up an old clip of Trump attending a dignified transfer years ago when he wasn’t wearing a campaign hat. When called out for it, the network issued a tepid apology, claiming they “inadvertendly aired” video from an older dignified transfer.
Remember the sustained outrage when Obama wore a tan suit, or when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy didn’t wear a suit to a meeting with Trump and Vance? But Trump wearing a campaign hat while slain servicemembers pass by doesn’t seem to move the needle at all, I guess.
No matter what way you slice it, this is one hell of a distraction from the fact that Trump is all over those Epstein files.
