President Donald Trump's assertion on the 2024 campaign trail that he was "the only president in 72 years that didn't start a war" has been overtaken by events. After bypassing Congress to order strikes on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and are spreading across the Middle East, his claim to be a peacemaker faces its most severe test.
Trump's earlier reputation as a "quasi-dove" was articulated in a New York Times column by Maureen Dowd during the 2016 election, contrasting him with Hillary Clinton. As the first commander-in-chief elected without prior political or military experience, he was seen as a dealmaker rather than a warmonger, embracing an America First ideology that promised an end to forever wars.
However, his history suggests a more hawkish bent. In 1980, when 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran, he said the US should send in troops. In 2002, he told Howard Stern he was "for invading Iraq", later calling it a "terrible mistake" in 2004 only after the war turned sour. During his first term, he increased drone strikes compared with Barack Obama and ordered the killing of Iranian commander Qassim Suleimani.
In his second term, Trump has replaced national security professionals with loyalists who encourage his impulses. He has rebranded the Department of Defense as the "Department of War" and frequently cites films such as Patton and Victory at Sea. His fascination with military power now appears to be central to his presidency.
The Iran strikes mark a definitive shift from his self-proclaimed "president of PEACE" persona, raising questions about his earlier reluctance to engage in conflict. As the Middle East braces for further escalation, Trump's transformation from quasi-dove to hawk appears complete.
