Will US attack Iran? Trump's Truth Social feed offers clues

The Herald Scotland

10 hours ago

In precarious moments like the one we are in now, as the world wonders if the United States will join Israel in attacking Iran, that's a problem.
Trump's social media posts, and even his interviews with traditional news outlets, are often unserious and haphazard. He taunts his foes like an NBA point guard and relies on a stream of consciousness communication style that is both cringeworthy and dangerous in a world where wars are a constant threat.
Please, Mr. President, stop. For the love of all that is peaceful and for the sake of the men and women who serve in our nation's military, would you close the app and put down the phone?
Hey Trump, maybe log off Truth Social for a bit?
Trump's social media page on Truth Social is a cacophony of thoughts that I'm loathe to read. He frequently posts messages to world leaders that ought to be conveyed, if at all, behind closed doors.
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On June 17, Trump posted: "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Reading that makes me nauseous. Trump is, after all, our nation's commander in chief and the stakes for Israel, the United States and the world couldn't be higher.
On June 18, Trump responded to a reporter's question about a potential American strike on Iranian nuclear sites in his typical manner: "I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do. I can tell you this that Iran's got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate. And I said, why didn't you negotiate with me before? All this death, and destruction."
He spoke about missile strikes like they were a casual game of checkers with a friend.
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Trump has been like this for years, of course, but he's once again the president. What he says and how he says it, even where he says it, matters. A lot.
In May, Trump described Russian President Vladimir Putin on social media as "absolutely CRAZY!" The United States was at the same time trying to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Not surprisingly, the carnage continues in that war.
He is never shy about picking a fight. In February, Trump posted, "CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!" That successfully goaded progressives into the "No Kings" protests we saw recently. His supporters love that kind of drama.
But now we're talking about war, not domestic politics and all of the silliness it entails.
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Whatever happened to speak softly and carry a big stick?
I'm not arguing that the president doesn't have the right to express himself on social media. He has often used his vast following to his advantage.
However, when it comes to handling enemies like Iran and the terrible dangers of nuclear weapons, the world doesn't need the American president's half-baked thoughts served up at 3 a.m.
Trump would do well to channel Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy adage, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." He also would do well to negotiate quietly, talk less, listen more and stop posting on social media every random thought that floats into his head.
Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.