President Donald Trump declared his power had "no limits" during a recent Axios interview when questioned about the Iran war. The interview, conducted by Axios' Marc Caputo, saw the reporter ask him, "What have you learned about, not just the exercises of power, but the limits on your power, as a result of the [Iran] conflict?"
"There are no limits. None. I haven't learned that lesson yet," Trump responded and added, "I know there are, but there are no limits. We defeated them totally, militarily."
U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding
The United States' conflict with Iran appears to be winding down following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two nations to bring hostilities to a close and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The 14-point document sets out the complete framework of the MOU negotiated between the U.S. and Iran last weekend.
The agreement encompasses measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while requiring the U.S. to immediately lift its naval blockade of Iran and suspend oil sanctions pending a final settlement. Crucially, it incorporates a $300 billion payment to Iran for its "reconstruction and economic development." This particular detail has prompted widespread concern amongst Americans over whether further taxpayer funds will be directed towards Iran.
Bipartisan Criticism
Senator Bill Cassidy denounced the agreement as the "worst foreign policy blunder in decades." Cassidy lost his recent primary when voters in Louisiana advanced his two challengers to a runoff election after Trump rallied against the incumbent and called him "a disloyal disaster."
"Before the war, the strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 service members were still alive," Cassidy said. "Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions will be lifted, and the bombing has stopped. This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades."
In an interview with the Daily Wire, Republican Senator Ted Cruz stated he wished to see further details regarding the agreement, but noted that aspects of what had been made public seemed "ill-advised." "What has been released so far suggests that, unfortunately, the president is getting, I think, very poor advice when it comes to this deal," Cruz said. "History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is a bad idea."
Approval Ratings Plummet
In the wake of the conflict, Trump's overall approval ratings have plummeted to an all-time low, with just 30% of surveyed Americans backing his performance to date. Regarding the war in Iran specifically, only 24% of Americans expressed support for the administration's management of the conflict.
