Trump’s Tough Guy Aspirations

August 10, 2026

The Iranians believe they are in a position to dictate the terms of resolving the war in Iran, Iran and Oman are negotiating terms for travel through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials laid out a series of demands that the US must meet before the Strait is reopened, The US and other countries are being forced to accept an outcome that would have been unacceptable before the war, Netanyahu openly broke with Trump over his plan for Gaza, The Trump administration has been working to reshape Latin American countries into right wing protectorates of the US, The administration is apparently looking for a cooperative leader for Cuba, Trump’s assumption of control over Venezuela appears to be the model for efforts in other countries, But the incident in which Trump left Türkiye after the NATO summer by faking the plane he was traveling because of a threat against his life, revealed the cowardice behind his tough guy aspirations, Trump protected himself by traveling in a smaller plan from Türkiye to England, leaving the press corps and staff to play decoy by traveling on Air Force One.

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