Trump’s Iran Ceasefire Failure: How the President ‘Can’t Even Surrender Right’

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The Shit Sandwich: Trump’s Iran Ceasefire Disaster

Over the weekend, economist Paul Krugman tweeted that Donald Trump “can’t even surrender right.” The statement rings true.

Today, we examine the benefits of failing fast versus the costs of failing slow, and how Trump’s approach to the Iran war has managed to maximize the downside of even the least-bad outcomes.

Warning: If you’ve ever believed in American greatness, prepare for a harsh reality check.

Two weeks ago, I offered a cautious endorsement of the ceasefire agreement. Trump’s ceasefire was a surrender that bolstered Iran’s position and undermined U.S. interests—but given the strategically disastrous decision to wage war in the first place, it was the least-bad option available. I described it as “a shit sandwich, but one we could afford to eat.”

Since then, Trump has botched the execution. He failed to secure commitments from Lebanon. He lost control of his Israeli allies. Rather than accepting the deal and moving forward, he antagonized the counterparty—despite their overwhelming leverage. He even allowed China to insert itself into the negotiations.

In short, Trump couldn’t even plate and deliver his own shit sandwich. The result? We’re now staring down yet another dangerous precipice.