Tuesday, May 12, 2026

With Iran conflict unresolved, Trump flies the coop

Donald Trump left for China on Tuesday for a short trip to Beijing and a summit with Xi Jinping, already put off once over the continued conflict with Iran.

Now the president is set to arrive on Xi's doorstep in a place of unmistakeable weakness.

The U.S. has utterly failed to achieve anything but its most basic military objectives in clearing out Iranian military forces. The Strait of Hormuz is virtually closed. Gas prices are still climbing. Negotiatons in Pakistan appear to have stalled.

Two days is a long time in Washington. By Friday, when Trump finally begins the lengthy trip back to D.C., gas prices could have jumped even higher — and the situation in the strait could be even worse.

On Tuesday as he spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Beijing, the president said he was single-minded in achieving ultimate victory and halting Iran's nuclear program for good.

"I don't think about American financial situation — I don't think about anybody," said the president in a quote seemingly tailor-made for Democratic ad teams. "I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon."

But one fundamental reality remains: Americans do not see any progress being made on that front. And the situation at home is continuing to worsen in the meantime.

Read more here. 

By John Bowden

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