Two weeks into the unexpected conflict with Iran, President Trump has found himself on the political backfoot, with his administration's missteps and the war's mounting toll knocking him back on his heels. What this really means is that the President's bold gambit to confront Iran has backfired, leaving him vulnerable on the domestic front as the 2020 election looms.
A Costly Miscalculation
The bigger picture here is that Trump's decision to launch a military strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani has plunged the U.S. into a protracted conflict that is sapping political capital and public support. As Drags On, Analysts Say, the administration's muddled messaging and inability to articulate clear objectives have only compounded the problem.
Domestic approval for the President's handling of the crisis has plummeted, with a majority of Americans now disapproving of his actions. This comes as the conflict has claimed the lives of dozens of U.S. troops in a series of retaliatory strikes by Iran. The human toll is taking a heavy political and emotional price.
Weakening Position
Crucially, Trump's Iran gamble has also opened up new fronts of vulnerability for the President. GOP defectors have broken ranks to criticize the administration's handling of the crisis, while Trump's inflammatory rhetoric has drawn rare bipartisan rebukes. This erosion of support among his own party could hamper his ability to govern and weaken his position heading into the 2020 race.
As our earlier coverage explored, Trump's brand of confrontational politics has often backfired, leaving him politically vulnerable. The Iran debacle appears to be the latest example of this trend, with the President's aggressive posturing now coming back to haunt him.