President Donald Trump enters the fourth week of the war with Iran confronting a crisis that appears increasingly beyond his control.
Global energy prices are surging, U.S. allies are reluctant to join military efforts, and thousands of additional American troops are being deployed to the Middle East despite Trump’s early promise that the campaign would be a "short excursion."
On Friday, Trump declared the conflict “Militarily WON,” a claim starkly at odds with the reality on the ground. Iran continues to restrict Gulf oil and gas exports and has launched a series of missile and drone strikes across the region.
Vital infrastructure in both Iran and neighboring Gulf states has been targeted, contributing to a 50% spike in oil prices and triggering fears of a global economic shock.
Analysts say the president’s ability to control both the war and its narrative is weakening, leaving him exposed politically.
