Gideon Rachman of The Financial Times emphasizes that Trump's strategy regarding Venezuela did not work in Iran.
The official name of the U.S. military campaign in Iran is Operation "Epic Fury," but unofficially it could be called "In a Desperate Attempt to Get Delcy." Trump explained the start of the conflict by his military success in Venezuela, which clearly increased his confidence in his actions. The president, who promised to end wars, was euphoric about what he characterized as a "stunning demonstration" of military power and was pleased with the opportunity to access Venezuelan oil.
Just a few weeks later, the U.S., together with Israel, began actions aimed at overthrowing the Iranian government. Trump viewed his experience in Venezuela as a model for Iran, stating to Axios: "I should have been involved in the appointment, as it was with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela." But his hopes were dashed when it became known that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of Iran.
Unlike Venezuela, military actions against Iran quickly took on an international scale — within the first week of the conflict, more than ten countries became targets of missile attacks. Trump sought to quickly establish control over the situation, hoping to find an "acceptable" leader for Iran. However, these expectations were not met. The economic consequences of the conflict also proved to be immediate and severe: global oil prices began to soar after the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbating economic problems and putting pressure on the White House.
With the midterm elections approaching and internal tensions between Trump and his supporters, the president may face difficulties caused by the economic downturn related to the conflict in Iran.
Meanwhile…
The White House released a propaganda video featuring Tom Cruise, Walter White, and characters from "Star Wars," praising the strikes on Iran. This underscores the lack of empathy from the Trump administration.
The White House publication includes the phrase "JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY," accompanying a video that glorifies the bombings of Iran by the U.S. and Israel.
The video shows drone footage interspersed with clips from well-known films, such as Marvel with Robert Downey Jr., "Gladiator" with Russell Crowe, "Top Gun: Maverick" with Tom Cruise, as well as "Star Wars" with Adam Driver and "Better Call Saul" with Bryan Cranston.
The video also uses footage from "Braveheart," "John Wick," "Superman," "Deadpool," and "Halo."
One of the clips is an excerpt from the comedy "Tropic Thunder," directed by and starring Ben Stiller.
The actor has already reacted to the use of this clip in the video, stating: "Hey, White House, take down the clip from Tropic Thunder. We did not give you permission and do not want to be part of your propaganda. War is not a movie."
This is not the first instance of the Trump administration using Hollywood clips, but this video stands out for its lack of irony and empathy.
Online, the video is mocked, being called "slopaganda" (a play on words from "slop" and "propaganda"), criticizing Trump for infantile behavior — "war minister" Pete Hegseth even makes a cameo in the video.
Notably, the video features open critics of Trump (for example, Downey Jr., who supports Kamala Harris, and Bryan Cranston, who has repeatedly spoken out against Trump); characters with moral flaws (Walter White, Saul Goodman, Kylo Ren); films that mock war and the American dream (Tropic Thunder, Breaking Bad); as well as plots about resistance to imperialism, such as William Wallace's fight against a foreign army.
Additionally, many stars featured in the video are not Americans (Crowe and Mel Gibson are from New Zealand and Australia, respectively, while Keanu Reeves is Canadian).
This video illustrates the primitivism and lack of cultural literacy of the Trump administration and demonstrates a lack of self-reflection.
While the White House may view this video as yet another attempt to troll its opponents, it only highlights the lack of empathy for the victims of war. According to preliminary data, more than 1,300 people have died in Iran, 13 in Israel, and the seventh American serviceman has already been killed in Saudi Arabia.
Moreover, questions are being raised about an independent investigation into the attack on a school in Minab that claimed the lives of 165 students; UN experts have called this incident "a grave crime against children." Human rights advocates are raising concerns about possible war crimes committed by the U.S. and Israel in a conflict that, according to lawyers, violates the UN Charter.
But who cares about international law when you can create a soulless video, turning conflict into entertainment?
The record "Trump's Failure in Iran: Venezuela Strategy Falls Flat, According to The Financial Times Observer" first appeared on K-News.
