Khanna Credits Conservative Voices for Pushing Trump into Iran Ceasefire
In a significant political development, Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, publicly acknowledged on Tuesday that three prominent conservative figures played a crucial role in pressuring President Donald Trump to agree to a two-week ceasefire with Iran. This move came after days of escalating rhetoric from Trump, who had threatened to bomb civilian infrastructure in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened.
Trump's Threats and the Ceasefire Announcement
President Trump had issued a series of violent warnings, including a profanity-laced post on his Truth Social platform on Easter Sunday, where he declared, "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastard, or you'll be living in Hell." He doubled down on Tuesday, writing about the potential destruction of an entire civilization. However, less than two hours before his 8 p.m. deadline, Trump announced a "double sided" ceasefire, effectively backing down from his threats.
Khanna's Acknowledgment of Conservative Influence
Following the ceasefire announcement, Khanna expressed relief in a video shared on X, stating, "I am relieved that Donald Trump has accepted a ceasefire and withdrawn his threat to destroy Iranian civilization." He emphasized that this outcome was not due to congressional action, which he described as barely making a whimper, but rather the force of the American people. Khanna specifically highlighted the role of conservatives like Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Ann Coulter, who spoke out against what he termed the horror of threatening genocide.
Conservative Opposition to Trump's Threats
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, were at the forefront of influential conservatives publicly opposing Trump's threats. They argued that bombing Iranian power plants and bridges would constitute war crimes under international law. Greene called Trump's actions "evil and madness," while Carlson urged officials close to Trump to refuse such orders. Ann Coulter, a right-wing pundit, also criticized Trump, stating he is "actually committing war crimes."
Broader Context and Impact
The conflict has already resulted in significant casualties, with at least 13 U.S. military service members and over 2,000 Iranians killed. Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for one-fifth of the world's oil, threatened a global energy crisis. Khanna used this momentum to galvanize bipartisan support, concluding in his video that a broad, populous social movement—anti-Epstein class, anti-war, and pro-working class—is essential to save democracy. This episode underscores the unexpected alliances forming in response to international crises.
