The difference here is that Donald Trump declared that Iran had been “defeated” about three dozen times in the course of the last 4+ months.
So what.
Take it away, AI!:
President Trump's approach to the Iran war aligns with his "The Art of the Deal" philosophy of combining aggressive escalation (demands and threats) with premature declarations of victory. He frequently utilizes this cycle to secure leverage and maintain flexibility, a core tactic discussed in his book.Trump has consistently applied severe military and economic leverage—such as blockades and strikes—before pivoting to outline a path to a potential deal.
President Trump uses frequent updates on platforms like Truth Social to manage expectations and apply pressure on all sides, staying closely aligned with his strategy to "deliver the goods" by controlling the narrative and keeping the opposition off balance.