Trump's warmongering rhetoric toward Iran reflects America's stalemate

Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, on July 29, 2026. JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON/AP PHOTO US President Donald Trump once again threatened Tehran with strikes on Wednesday, July 29, in retaliation for attacks targeting a US base in Jordan. This aggressive approach has become a refrain for Trump, who, despite months of escalating rhetoric, has been unable to instill fear in the Iranian leadership. Tehran remains determined to stand up to the world's biggest power. 'We’ll be hitting them hard. They’re going to get a beating,' July 29 Just hours before raising the specter of bombing Iran on July 29, Donald Trump told Fox News, "We're going to beat the fucking shit out of them." The next morning, July 30, at dawn, the US military targeted command centers, missile and drone sites, and surveillance facilities, according to information released by US Central Command. This round of strikes has given experts a sense of déjà vu . "Trump's made so many threats without following through, I think the market views his threats as mostly bluster," said Grégory Brew, Iran specialist at Eurasia Group, recalling the president's statement – "an entire civilization will die tonight" – which the White House leader posted on his Truth Social network on April 7, stirring fear and dismay in the international community. In the end, he did not follow through. The United States instead declared an initial ceasefire the next day. You have 81.11% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.