President Donald Trump’s famous “art of the deal” has been on display ever since he returned to the White House. But as he eyes U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war, it has never been as important to him and the nation.
As we size up this week’s White House Report Card, the two-week pause Trump has offered Iran and his negotiators to find a diplomatic solution to the terrorist nation’s continued bid to build nuclear weapons overshadows everything else. It has also shone the spotlight on the U.S. and GOP divide over getting involved in the crisis.
It was the focus of our two graders. Military analyst Jed Babbin is a green light for action and graded Trump an “A-” for his tough talk against America’s enemy since the Iran hostage crisis 46 years ago. Democratic pollster John Zogby is a red light, grading the week an “F.” He said, “This is crazy.”
Dealmaking was also the focus on Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which goes into high gear as the July 4th deadline for passage nears. His pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut rates, dismissed by Chairman Jerome Powell, had at least one governor seeing action next month.
And finally, we have to note Trump’s installation of two huge flag poles and flags on the White House grounds, his latest demonstration of America First, America proud. Yeah, they look like car dealership flags, but many Americans love that about showman Trump.
As Washington Examiner Editor-in-Chief Hugo Gurdon wrote this week, “Trump’s view on everything is that you have to go big or go home. In this thinking, it follows that if the flag is great, a huge flag must be better. That’s just how he rolls, and many people love it. It’s often not pretty, but it is undeniably a strength.”
Jed Babbin
Grade: A-
Another good week for President Donald Trump and his team. Iran is on the ropes, the Fed is talking about interest rate cuts, and the Democrats still can’t think of anything to say except “orange man bad.”
So the president gave Iran 60 days to come to an agreement implementing measures that would circumvent any of Iran’s efforts to make a nuclear bomb. The ayatollahs stalled, thinking they could play Trump as if he were former President Joe Biden. Israel’s bombs started falling on the 61st day.
Maybe now they’ll take the president seriously. He’s given them another two weeks to make a deal. Having studied Iran for about 40 years, I’m sure they’ll try to bluff again and then try to strike at U.S. assets including those here at home. It won’t pay off for them.
The isolationist wing of the Republican Party is trying to get Trump to do no more to help Israel (or Ukraine or Taiwan or anyone else). They should sit down and shut up.
The military is something to be proud to serve in, so recruitments are up significantly. Funny how that works.
And the Federal Reserve, under great pressure to reduce rates, will probably begin to cut them in July with more employment gains as a result.
John Zogby
Grade: F
The very fact that President Donald Trump is talking about joining Israel in taking out Iran’s nuclear program earns him his failing grade this week. Add to this, that assassinating the ayatollah is an option makes it all that much more dangerous on many levels.
First, U.S. public opinion is solidly against joining Israel’s effort. Sixty-three percent oppose, according to a poll by YouGov, including over 70% of Democrats and independents, as well as 53% of Republicans. Trump is accustomed to receiving close to 90% support from his own party on most issues.
Beyond the GOP polling numbers, this week marked some serious cracks in the MAGA movement, with stalwarts such as Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) passionately vocal in their opposition to striking Iran. Second, is the talk (promise) of assassination. The rulers of Iran are not good people, but regime change is something we are just not good at. Vietnam turned communist; Afghanistan went right back to the Taliban; Iraq is a failed state.
And, then, of course there is Iran itself. Remember the horrific pro-Western regime of the Shah with its 150,000+ political prisoners? Iranians may prefer to rally around their regime and flag rather than accept a U.S./Israeli approved government. Worse, in a vacuum, it could mean a military takeover by the Revolutionary Guard.
Third, normally, Americans might support a war if it is won, done, and over. But the attempt to take out Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility promises to be protracted. This is crazy.
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Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on X @jedbabbin.
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His latest book is Beyond the Horse Race: How to Read Polls and Why We Should. His podcast with son and managing partner and pollster Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on X @ZogbyStrategies.
