TACO Trump called off the latest round of his threatened attacks on Iran today–attacks that he claimed might include the taking of Kharg Island, an action that would (a) almost certainly involve U.S. ground troops and (b) have benefited from the element of surprise. Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Trump justified backing off his threats by trumpeting (like how I did that?) alleged substantial progress toward a peace deal with Iran. If you believe that, you might also believe that Trump was treated to the cheers of an adoring crowd at Madison Square Garden the other night.
Whatever the reasons, we get to celebrate another TACO day–this time on a Thursday. Stay tuned for more posturing, blustering, and increases of prices at the pump. Oh, and remember, Trump “loves the inflation.” I sure hope the Democrats love that comment, and don’t let anyone in the U.S. forget it.
UPDATE JUNE 14, 2026
To celebrate Trump’s 80th birthday, the US and Pakistan announced a ceasefire between the US and Iran that, according to the New York Times will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the US blockade of the Strait. Under the agreement, the US and Iran have still to negotiate concerning the Iranian nuclear program and sanctions relief. In other words, as of now, we have an agreement that leaves the principal issue that supposedly motivated the war–the Iranian nuclear program–unresolved, and the Iranian regime intact.
This is what we’ve gotten so far from the expenditure of billions of US dollars, the deaths of thirteen US military personnel, the injuries of many others, the attacks on US allies in the region, the damage to energy infrastructure throughout the region, the imposition of higher energy and other prices on consumers throughout the world, and the deaths of many Iranian and Lebanese civilians. Yes, a lot of Iranian leaders are dead, and a lot of Iranian military assets have been destroyed. But the Iranians have discovered how much can be done with cheap drones, and how much leverage they have over the Strait of Hormuz, and, therefore, critical, movements of shipping from the region.
Trump will no doubt portray this as a great victory for the US and the world. But that will be yet another of his lies. The Iranian “excursion” thus far has been a disaster. In fact, this deal is perhaps the ultimate TACO moment. The true measure of the results of the war will be seen in the negotiations about the nuclear program and sanctions issues. When, as is likely, Trump either folds or accepts token concessions on the nuclear program and when he lifts the sanctions, what will conservatives in Congress say? What will Netanyahu say?
Perhaps Trump thinks that energy prices will immediately return to pre-war levels, and voters will forget the high prices they’ve been paying these last several months. But that would be sheer fantasy. Consumers will be paying for this war for a long time. Hopefully, he and his feckless Republican supporters will pay the price in November.