Sidney Blumenthal, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, has published a detailed analysis of Donald Trump's handling of the Iran war, arguing that the US president's repeated victory claims only deepened a self-made catastrophe. According to Blumenthal, Trump declared victory dozens of times before finally surrendering, including on day eight—'We've already won!'—day 10—'The war is very complete'—and day 12, where he proclaimed victory five times in 13 seconds: 'We've won, let me say we've won. You know, you never like to say too early you won, we won, we won the bet in the first hour it was over.' On day 39, he claimed 'Total and complete victory, 100%. No question about it,' and raised the prospect of peace 38 times, saying on day 24 that the two sides had reached 'almost all points of agreement.'
Trump Signs Memorandum at Versailles
Trump boldly affixed his signature with a sharpie to the Memorandum of Understanding on day 110, 17 June, at the Palace of Versailles, where the treaty concluding World War I was signed. Blumenthal notes Trump seemed oblivious to the historical symbolism, remarking, 'Versailles is not gold leaf – Versailles is the real deal.' At a press conference beforehand, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood stone-faced, perhaps hoping nobody would notice him. Trump said about his absent vice-president, JD Vance, who was queasy about the venture but now assigned to defend it: 'If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD.' The next day, Vance insisted the war was a 'win' and falsely stated that lifting oil sanctions is 'not a new benefit' for Iran.
Israel Hayom Editorial Condemns Trump
On 18 June, Israel Hayom, a rightwing newspaper and mouthpiece for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, published by Miriam Adelson—who gave over $100m to the 2024 Trump campaign—ran a lead editorial addressed to Trump: 'Mr. President, you have gravely harmed the human interests of the enlightened world, and you may be remembered forever as the president who brought about America's humiliation. You betrayed us, the Israelis.' Blumenthal notes that Netanyahu forgot Trump abandoned even his mentor, mob lawyer Roy Cohn.
Strategic Failure from Day One
Blumenthal argues Trump lost his war on day one. Iran first effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz following US and Israeli airstrikes, achieving asymmetric strategic superiority. On day 43, 11 April, Trump tweeted: 'The United States has completely destroyed Iran's Military, including their entire Navy and Air Force, and everything else.' Blumenthal writes that Trump confused tactics with strategy, and the more he bombed, the more he lost the plot. Without strategic comprehension, Trump's triumphalism deepened bitterness and anger, elevating Iran into a regional hegemon, persuading Gulf states the US is unreliable, increasing China's influence, condemning Israel, alienating European allies, wasting US military power, and shattering US prestige.
Obliterated Rationale for War
What Trump succeeded in obliterating was any rationale for going to war. On day 39, he tweeted about 'Complete and Total Regime Change,' but on day 110, he praised the Iranian regime: 'You talk about regime change. I never cared about regime change. It [was] never a part … And we're dealing with people that I think are very rational people.' Blumenthal notes Trump is in a class of his own as a US president launching a war of aggression without a casus belli and losing it in short order, contrasting with past presidents like Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, who feared being the first to lose a war.
Political Survival and Defeat
Blumenthal states that leaders in democracies who lose wars inevitably lose office, with no case of a democratic leader politically surviving such a loss. Despots retain power through repression and scapegoating. On day 107, 14 June—Trump's 80th birthday—he announced the MOU as 'complete,' waiving oil sanctions and opening access to tens of billions in frozen assets, while committing to a $300bn 'Reconstruction Plan.' Trump called the earlier JCPOA a 'horrible, one-sided deal.' He staged Ultimate Fighting Championship matches on the South Lawn, representing his strength.
Caligula Trap and Mocking from Allies
When asked about limits of his power, Trump replied: 'There are no limits. I haven't learned that lesson yet.' He also declared victory over algae blooms in the Reflecting Pool, accusing 'Radical Left Lunatics' of sabotage. On 19 June, Park police arrested a 67-year-old former Olympic cyclist for touching peeling paint. Blumenthal compares Trump to Emperor Caligula, who marched legions to the English Channel and gathered seashells as 'spoils' of war. Marjorie Taylor Greene, former Republican member of Congress, posted: 'Congratulations to all for almost achieving peace to the war that is not a war… This, apparently, is what winning looks like.'
