President Trump’s "peace is popular" rhetoric clashes with escalating tensions as a U.S. carrier strike group heads toward Iran, following his push for regime change despite campaign promises—backed by Netanyahu’s fifth D.C. visit this year and 70% American opposition (80% independents, 55% against Greenland purchase). His 2019 execution orders in the Caribbean and Pacific, plus Venezuela and Greenland operations, mirror neoconservative interventions, with AP polls showing just 42% approval, while 45% favor reduced global involvement. Public backlash risks midterm losses unless he reverses course. [Automatically generated summary]
Hello everybody and thank you for tuning in to the weekly report.
President Trump, peace is popular.
Over the weekend, as a U.S. carrier strike group made its way toward Iran, President Trump told Politico it's time to look for new leadership in Iran.
This pro-regime change statement came just days after the U.S. and Israel-led covert operation to overthrow the Iranian government was finally defeated by Iranian authorities.
The U.S. President is making it clear he is not giving up on regime change for Iran.
Late last week, the world held its breath, expecting a U.S. missile strike on Iran after Trump promised help is on the way to the U.S.-backed insurrectionists.
President Trump claimed that he called off the strikes at the last minute when he was told that Iran would hold off on executing the ringleaders of the revolt.
Ironically, Trump himself has ordered the execution of more than 100 individuals on boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean without charges, trials, or convictions.
The renewed military threat on Iran come after the unprecedented fifth visit to D.C. this year by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was said to be arriving with a renewed demand for U.S. military action against Iran.
Add to this the recent U.S. military operation to kidnap the President and First Lady of Venezuela and take the country's oil, as well as President Trump's increasing demands for control over Greenland and the aggressive militarism of this administration is about the polar opposite of what was promised by candidate Trump.
And the American people are taking notice.
Three recently released polls could spell disaster for Trump's second term and for Republicans in this year's midterm elections.
According to a recent poll released last week, seven in ten Americans opposed the U.S. use of force against Iran, including a solid majority of Republican voters.
80% of the very important independent voters oppose any U.S. attack on Iran.
Trump's Foreign Policy Approval Plummets00:02:06
On President Trump's renewed demand for control of Greenland, control he claimed he would get the easy way or the hard way.
That same poll shows that 86% of Americans surveyed opposed taking the territory by force.
A majority of 55% of Americans polled do not even want President Trump to purchase the massive island.
An AP poll also released last week showed President Trump's approval lately on foreign policy has shrunk to a new low in his presidency.
According to the poll, 45% of adults want the U.S. to take a less active role in global affairs, up from 33% in September 25.
Americans are clearly more interested in getting our problems solved at home than acting as policemen for the world.
Perhaps even worse for President Trump and the Republicans, according to a newly released Real Clear political poll, President Trump's approval rating hits new second-term low of 42%.
Whatever praise President Trump may be receiving from his inner circle, which is increasingly neocon, and a small group of MAGA supporters, such aggressive operations overseas are rapidly losing him the support of the rest of the American people.
And that includes Republicans.
Trump ran on no new wars and no more regime changes overseas.
These are very popular positions.
Abandoning these positions has cost Trump dearly.
We can hope that in the remaining three years, President Trump will rediscover candidate Trump's positions and show his neocon advisors the door.