All of Trump's options as president faces his most consequential decision yet
Will Donald Trump bow to Netanyahu's calls for escalation in the Middle East, hold his nerve and wait, or listen to MAGA voices urging him to pull back from the brink?
Donald Trump is facing the most consequential decision of his presidency since returning to the White House.
The US president must decide whether to carry out military strikes on Iran and risk dragging America into a new Middle East war, or resist the pressure and stand by his campaign promise to end 'forever wars'. The former reality TV star-turned-president has signed off on detailed strike plans, including the use of bunker-busting bombs to target Iran's underground nuclear sites, but has so far stopped short of giving the final order to attack.
'There are a lot of things in motion,' a senior US official told the Mirror. 'But the President wants to keep his options open until the very last moment.' Trump is walking a geopolitical tightrope, caught between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's demands for American military might, growing MAGA sentiment at home, and his own instinct for spectacle and legacy.
Trump himself summed up the dilemma from the Oval Office this week: 'I like to make the final decision one second before it's due. Especially with war, things change with war. It can go from one extreme to the other.' He is reportedly wary of becoming 'bogged down' in the region but is open to arguments that limited, decisive strikes could deliver a clear win and a legacy-defining moment.
Whether he yields to Netanyahu, backs MAGA or tries to thread the needle may come down to a single question: Does Trump see more glory in restraint or retribution? As one Washington source put it: 'This won't just be about strategy. It'll be about ego. Trump wants to be remembered; the question is for what.'
As the world waits, what options does Trump now have?
Option One: Strike and secure his place in history
Sources say Trump is being heavily lobbied by Netanyahu, who insists only the United States has the firepower to 'end Iran's nuclear ambitions once and for all'. The Israeli leader claims Tehran is mere weeks away from a working bomb - a point US spies disagree with - and has urged Trump to act before it's too late.
With Israel already bombing Iranian enrichment and missile sites, and claiming to have assassinated top nuclear scientists, Netanyahu wants Washington to deliver the final blow. And for Trump, the lure of legacy could be decisive. One adviser said: 'He wants to be remembered as the man who ended Iran's nuclear programme. Barack Obama gave them a deal. Trump wants to be the one who took the bomb away.'
That thinking plays directly to Trump's ego - a man who craves being seen as strong, decisive, and history-making. Yet the risks are colossal. Iran has already warned that any US involvement will result in 'irreparable damage'. American bases in Iraq, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait and the Gulf are within striking range, and a wider regional conflict could erupt almost overnight.
Option Two: Stay the course and wait
So far, Trump has tried to balance strength with restraint. He has deployed additional warships and bombers to the region and remains in close contact with Israeli officials. But he has also signalled he wants to see how far Israel can go alone before committing US firepower.
European diplomats say US allies were told over the weekend that the White House would assess Israel's progress during the initial phase of operations before making a final call. Privately, Pentagon officials fear a 'limited' strike could spiral, and Trump himself is keenly aware of the risks.
'He doesn't want to look weak,' said one insider. 'But he doesn't want to sleepwalk into another war either.' Waiting allows Trump to keep the pressure on Iran while avoiding direct involvement for now. But it is a delicate gamble. One miscalculation or American casualty could force his hand.
Option Three: Step back and stick to MAGA
The loudest opposition to any military action is coming not from opposition Democrats, but from Trump's own base. MAGA-aligned voices like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene have all urged the president to avoid another 'endless war in the Middle East'.
Greene said true Trump supporters 'do not support foreign intervention' and accused Republicans backing strikes of being 'fake America First'. Their message echoes Trump's re-election campaign pledges.
He won the White House twice by promising to bring US troops home, tear up international entanglements, and put 'America First.' A source close to the Trump campaign said: 'If he goes to war, he betrays his base. They didn't elect him to be Bush. They elected him to end these wars.'
But MAGA's message clashes with Trump's desire to look strong on Iran. Walking away could be spun as weakness, something the president finds anathema.
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