Trump’s Forever War
This week, Donald Trump formally informed Congress that the United States had resumed active hostilities with Iran – less than a month after signing a memorandum of understanding that he claimed would end the war and bring Iran back to the negotiating table. Instead, the agreement quickly collapsed, and a new cycle of bombings between the United States and Iran has now escalated into renewed full-scale war.
The consequences are already being felt here at home. Oil prices spiked following Trump’s announcement, fueled in part by his threat to make the United States the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20 percent fee on commercial shipping. Although Trump later backed away from that proposal, he cannot undo the damage caused by this war.
Today, thanks to Trump, America is trapped in an open-ended war with no end in sight. Below is messaging guidance on how to talk about Trump's very own forever war – and what it means for the American people.
Talking Points:
Trump has restarted his reckless and costly war with Iran. Trump has ordered the military to expand strikes in Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is closed, energy prices are rising, and Americans are once again paying for a conflict that they never wanted. The self-proclaimed "president of peace" has once again opted for war.
Trump has backed himself into a corner – with disastrous results. His memorandum of understanding was deeply flawed and unclear, but it at least paused the fighting. By abandoning diplomacy without a viable alternative, Trump has again forced America into an open-ended war of his own making, even though he cannot escalate his way out of this conflict.
Americans are paying the price for Trump’s war. This war has already cost taxpayers more than $100 billion, driven up energy prices, and now the Trump Administration wants Congress to approve another $350 billion to keep it going.
After months of conflict, Trump still cannot explain what victory looks like. His stated objectives have changed repeatedly – from eliminating Iran's nuclear program, to toppling the regime, destroying its military, and now reopening the Strait of Hormuz – a crisis that didn't exist before Trump launched this war.
Trump’s “bomb and hope” strategy isn’t a real plan. Iran has already survived months of American bombing campaigns. More airstrikes are unlikely to eliminate Iran's nuclear ambitions, force it to surrender the Strait of Hormuz, or change the regime. They will only prolong the war, destabilize the region, and drive up costs for American families.
Trump campaigned against endless wars. Now he owns one. By resuming full-scale war, Trump is trapping the United States in an endless cycle of escalation and constant conflict.
Trump’s war made the world a much more dangerous, unstable, and expensive place – and there’s no putting the genie back in the bottle. Trump’s leadership has cost us dearly, and his reckless warmongering must be reined in before it makes things even worse.
Published: July 2026