The Wall Street Journal’s conservative editorial board issued a scathing rebuke of Donald Trump on Sunday, as escalating tit-for-tat strikes between the U.S. and Iran threaten the already fragile agreement to halt hostilities.
Editorial Questions Value of U.S.-Iran Deal
The publication’s board, which has been a persistent thorn in Trump’s side throughout his second term, questioned the value of the U.S. memorandum of understanding with Iran. “The best selling point for President Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran was that at least it opened the Strait of Hormuz,” the editorial stated. “Well, now the regime is trying to nullify those terms by using force against commercial vessels, Gulf states and U.S. bases. All of this violates the deal and calls into question why Mr. Trump signed it.”
Trump’s Criticism Turned Back on Him
The editorial then flipped one of Trump’s own recent criticisms back on him. After Trump complained on Saturday following Iranian attacks that it was “very possible” Iran’s leaders “will never learn,” the Journal asked: “Or is it U.S. decision makers who never learn?”
It slammed Vice President JD Vance for appearing to portray Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leadership as “transformed” and ready to “turn over a new leaf.” The board called those currently in power in Tehran “the same terrorist regime, and this is the Battle of Hormuz that Mr. Trump thought he had ducked.”
