‘The Economist’: War with Iran makes Trump weaker and angrier — it's dangerous for everyone

Mr Trump’s war has weakened him. The resulting energy shock is roiling the world economy. America is far more vulnerable than he claims. Russia is laughing. The chances of Democrats recapturing both arms of Congress have sharply increased. Some Republicans — the ones who took his “no new wars” promise seriously — are furious, as our editor-in-chief’s interview with Tucker Carlson for the Insider illuminates.

Mr Trump could still surprise us with a diplomatic triumph, perhaps in Cuba. But for now, his fury seems not so much “epic” as blind, ‘The Economist’ stresses.

"Even a short war will change the course of his second term. One that lasts for months could bring him down to earth".

Trump's three main superpowers: the ability to impose his reality, the ruthless use of leverage, and absolute control over the Republican Party. Iran takes it all away from him one by one.

Trump claims that he has already won. But the facts suggest otherwise. The regime in Tehran is surviving, the nuclear program is intact, and oil prices are breaking records. After the strike on the Qatari gas hub, Brent exceeded $ 110.

Iran is waging its own parallel war against global energy. If the strait remains closed until the end of April, the price of oil could reach $ 150 per barrel.

Time is running out for Tehran. The US and Israel are running out of targets for air strikes and interceptors for protection. Iran still has a lot of drones. And while it is stifling shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the global economy is bleeding.

When Trump called on allies to help open the strait, threatening NATO with a "very bad" future, he was politely refused.

Trump promised voters peace and low prices. Instead, 13 American soldiers have died (?!), gasoline has gone up by 77 cents per gallon since the inauguration, and diesel has gone up by $1.37. Republicans are fuming in private conversations.

The rhetoric of the MAGA faction, especially Tucker Carlson, sounds like talk of betrayal. The Republicans' chances of losing the Senate increased by 10 points to 50%.

The worse the defeat in the midterm elections, the weaker the president and the less his influence on the future of the party. A weak Trump will be looking for someone to vent his anger on. He is already threatening to take away licenses from media outlets criticizing the war, putting pressure on the Fed and may send immigration police to the cities of the Democrats.

A weak president can become more dangerous. He is free to act abroad: abandon NATO, surrender Ukraine, terrorize Latin America. It's hard to imagine how Trump comes out of the Iranian rework victorious. And he doesn't know how to lose.