# Does Trump want there to be an attack on the US?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193
**Category:** Great Debates
**Tags:** trump
**Created:** [March 4, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193 "2026-03-04T16:01:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/1 "2026-03-04T16:01:49Z")
It certainly feels like they are doing everything in their power to instigate an attack on US soil (either home grown or otherwise) of some kind so he has an excuse to crack down harder and attempt to cancel elections. What would he be doing differently if this wasn’t the case?
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/2 "2026-03-04T16:06:37Z")
It certainly seems like he’s doing everything he can to encourage violence on our soil. I imagine a 9/11-style attack would be a wet dream for an admin that’s looking to consolidate power and establish a fascist government.
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### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/3 "2026-03-04T16:52:05Z")
I imagine Trump himself doesn’t even consider the matter, he’s never had to face consequences and doesn’t think in those terms. If he wants to attack Iran then Iran has no choice but to just take it without fighting back because that’s how the universe works. No one but him has agency, the world simply exists for the sole purpose of giving him whatever he wants without effort or consequences.
Now, the people surrounding him? _They,_ I bet _are_ hoping for some 9-11 scale terrorist attack they can use for their profit.
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### Author:  [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/4 "2026-03-04T16:57:37Z")
Anything that takes the public away from discussing the Epstien files is good for this guy.
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### Author:  [@knavette57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knavette57)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/5 "2026-03-04T17:00:50Z")
I read that the generals are telling the trips that the war is God’s Divine Plan, that it will initiate Armageddon, the Rapture, Jesus’ Second Coming, etc. Many in the military are very concerned about this, and it definitely is what I always heard growing up among fundies, etc., that there has to be a big ass war in the Middle East before Jesus comes back. I believe none of that, but some do. I have often wondered why it seems no one talks about this pattern from the Christianfascists. Frankly, there won’t be a Second Coming, we know that. As time goes on, and that becomes apparent, I fear violence bc the Christianfascists will think our society is too evil, and they might try to cull out the undesirables. I hope not, though.
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### Author:  [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/6 "2026-03-04T17:13:47Z")
I doubt Trump is smart enough to come up with such a concept. Rather, I think it’s simply bully logic that he has. “It’s right when I punch the other guy, but it’s wrong when he punches back.” You know how bullies always act (genuinely) as if, when someone retaliates, it’s an unprovoked attack despite their bullying? When or if Iran hits back at America, Trump will genuinely think it’s an unprovoked attack by Iran.
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### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/7 "2026-03-04T17:45:44Z")
Well, trump has some 20 year old campaigner in charge of counterterrorism. So yes it looks like they are deliberately making it easy for an enemy to attack.
or they could simply be incompetent.
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### Author:  [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/8 "2026-03-04T17:50:29Z")
To add to this, I think Trump might not understand that the 9/11 rally-around-the-flag effect around Bush, where Bush’s approval ratings suddenly soared to 88%, was not only just a one-time effect not likely to repeat again, but also was caused by the perception that 9/11 was somewhat unprovoked. If Iran hits America we sure aren’t going to see most Democrats rally around Trump because he was asking for it.
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### Author:  [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/9 "2026-03-04T17:52:23Z")
Also, any attack on U.S. soil would be the result of insufficient policing / surveillance by the DHS, whose funding is held up in Congress. So it would be the Democrats’ fault.
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### Author:  [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/10 "2026-03-04T18:06:59Z")
I don’t think he necessarily _wants_ an attack, but I’m quite sure he doesn’t really care if there is one. He knows he can just blame Democrats and foreigners for it if it happens.
Just listen to his offhand remarks about how US soldiers will likely be killed due to the attack on Iran. He just doesn’t care.
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### Author:  [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/11 "2026-03-04T18:12:20Z")
I wouldn’t be so sure, the rally effect is _real_.
Hardcore Democrats/leftists will be immune, but anyone softer than that…
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### Author:  [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/12 "2026-03-04T18:30:02Z")
On some level, yes, I think he welcomes an attack on the US. I very much doubt the ‘it’ll hasten Armageddon’ argument, because Trump is not a Christian, though he claims to be and many of his followers think he is. I think the angle he’s hoping to exploit is that if the US is attacked, he can declare a national emergency and suspend elections. Just one step closer to achieving his Forever Fascism Party.
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### Author:  [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/13 "2026-03-04T20:48:25Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Well, trump has some 20 year old campaigner in charge of counterterrorism. So yes it looks like they are deliberately making it easy for an enemy to attack.
>
> or they could simply be incompetent.
I’m torn on this. My first reaction was that they are sure inviting retaliatory strikes, and creating very dedicated enemies for years on into the future, but I was regarding this as unintended and unforeseen on their part, as people who have no idea of the history of modern Iran.
But a serious-enough retaliatory attack would certainly play right into any scenario designed to throttle free elections in this country. Maybe there really is a cabal of advisers “smart” enough to have thought of this approach. Or who are at least waiting with this in the back of their minds, to take advantage of whatever comes along.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/14 "2026-03-04T22:26:08Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#):
>
> Anything that takes the public away from discussing the Epstien files is good for this guy.
Its not the files- it is the 2026 elections.
If trump _did_ want such a thing, he’d just NOT attack Iran, let Israel do it, then station escorts and such in the Straight of Hormuz- and Iran would take the bait.
> [@Velocity](#):
>
> I doubt Trump is smart enough to come up with such a concept. Rather, I think it’s simply bully logic that he has.
Yep.
> [@Velocity](#):
>
> To add to this, I think Trump might not understand that the 9/11 rally-around-the-flag effect around Bush, where Bush’s approval ratings suddenly soared to 88%, was not only just a one-time effect not likely to repeat again, but also was caused by the perception that 9/11 was somewhat unprovoked.
My point. Smoke screen for the elections.
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### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/15 "2026-03-04T22:33:57Z")
> [@knavette57](#):
>
> I read that the generals are telling the trips that the war is God’s Divine Plan, that it will initiate Armageddon, the Rapture, Jesus’ Second Coming, etc. Many in the military are very concerned about this, and it definitely is what I always heard growing up among fundies, etc., that there has to be a big ass war in the Middle East before Jesus comes back. I believe none of that, but some do. I have often wondered why it seems no one talks about this pattern from the Christianfascists.
Because it’s a taboo to talk about it. It’s been a big deal on the Right since at least Reagan\*, but most people feel obligated to ignore it because it makes the Republicans and right wing Christians look as insane and dangerous as they actually are. And nothing is more central to American politics than sucking up to the Right, no matter the cost.
- I recall reading an interview after the Cold War by a former Politburo insider about how Reagan’s election by itself was enough to get the Politburo to consider a nuclear first strike, because they feared that Reagan might decide to nuke the world out of religious fanaticism. And Reagan _did_ talk like that a lot. Without Gorbachev talking him down we likely wouldn’t be here.
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### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/16 "2026-03-04T22:57:22Z")
If you spend three seconds thinking about what DJT thinks, that’s three seconds more than he spends thinking whatever it is. He doesn’t think. He listens to the last person to advise him and just goes with it. If it puts him front and center in the news cycle for the day, he’ll do it. If not, he won’t. He’s incapable of planning ahead, but if an attack took place he’d be happy as a clam. MAGA is all about perpetual victimhood and this would please him immensely.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/17 "2026-03-04T23:05:00Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Well, trump has some 20 year old campaigner in charge of counterterrorism. So yes it looks like they are deliberately making it easy for an enemy to attack.
This. And also headlines like this one are all over:
# Patel fired key members of FBI spy group that monitors Iran threats days before Trump launched attacks: report
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### Author:  [@doomtastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doomtastic)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/18 "2026-03-04T23:13:57Z")
Always, _always_, assume the Dems will take the blame. You’re just setting yourself up for disappointment otherwise.
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### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2026, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/19 "2026-03-05T04:41:26Z")
Very much so. This is how dictators cement power. They find some kind of national emergency (a foreign war, a civil war, crime, terrorism, covid-19, etc) and use that to clamp down on civil rights. If they cant find one, they invent one, like Putin and the FSB being behind the apartment bombings.
The issue is Trump would need congress to pass a law giving him more power. Hopefully they can’t get that passed through the senate filibuster.
But yes. People tend to rally around the political leader when there is some kind of threat.
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### Author:  [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-there-to-be-an-attack-on-the-us/1028193/21 "2026-03-05T14:08:58Z")
The shooting in Austin TX on March 1st sure looks like it was due to the attack in Iran. The shooter was killed so it is just speculation on my part.
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