# Speculation About Trump's Underlying Reasons for Bombing Iran and Other Targets **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209 "2026-03-04T21:58:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/21 "2026-03-04T23:26:47Z")
Still, it’s important to remember that Itan has _two_ enemy factions in play in the Middle East: Israel and the US, and Saudia Arabia and other Arabian Peninsula states. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/22 "2026-03-04T23:39:00Z")
Trump readily takes Russian aid. But he’s too stupid to be a Russian agent. But I feel there’s a Russian agent in Trump’s senior circle. Somebody who’s getting money from Russia and who receives orders from Russia, which he then passes on to Trump as “suggestions”. (Kushner would be my first guess.) So Trump is working for Russia without being aware of it. So my speculation is that Putin decided getting the United States caught up in a Middle Eastern war would benefit Russia, so he gave the orders to his mole. The mole probably framed it as “All the great presidents led the country in wartime. You should declare war on Iran. You’re a brilliant leader, so you’ll win a quick war. And all of your enemies will be afraid of you with all the popularity you have.” ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/23 "2026-03-04T23:55:07Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > mole probably framed it as “All the great presidents led the country in wartime. You should declare war on Iran. You’re a brilliant leader, so you’ll win a quick war. And all of your enemies will be afraid of you with all the popularity you have.” “Iran has been America’s enemy for nearly 50 years, and no president has had the nerve to take them out. Now is the time to strike. You’ll make history.” I can see it. But I think the suggestions are coming from Netanyahu. Trump really bristled when it was suggested that Israel talked him into the war. “If anything, I forced _them_ into the decision.” That’s his tell. Projecting his behavior onto otbers. > **[Trump says 'if anything' he forced Israel's hand on Iran attack timing, says...](https://abcnews.com/amp/Politics/trump-late-talks-iran-warns-us-munitions-fight/story?id=130712402)** > > President Trump denied being pulled by Israel into war with Iran, and acknowledged most of the individuals the U.S. favored to next lead in Tehran have been killed. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/24 "2026-03-04T23:55:56Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not those damned files- it is the ongoing and upcoming 2026 elections that the Republicans might lose. And just how is tanking the economy and raising oil prices while opening the US to vengeance counter attacks supposed to help Republicans in the election? I’m not following your line of thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/25 "2026-03-04T23:58:03Z")
> [@glee](#): > > it may energise his base for the mid-terms This may be true, but if so, it’s absolutely foolish. This war has an exceptionally low support among polled Americans, so if his base is energized it’s at the expense of everyone else. And the Republicans can’t win if they only get votes from their diehard base. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/26 "2026-03-04T23:58:05Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > I must admit to being a little unsure about his reasons. I think we know most of the reasons. He has wanted to do it for decades, as I posted before, to somehow “get” their oil, just as he also talked of getting Iraq’s oil. Also, [Netayahu pushed](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/us/politics/trump-war-iran-israel.html?unlocked_article_code=1.QlA.kBgk.43UlUEd8p2cE&smid=url-share). And: [How Lindsey Graham got Trump to yes on Iran](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/04/lindsey-graham-interview-iran-00809951) Trump himself has given a [whole bunch of reasons](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/trump-administration-reasons-for-going-to-war-with-iran), most of which may be true in some aspect. What we should be unsure of is which of the reasons predominated. That’s more the subject of history than daily journalism. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/27 "2026-03-04T23:59:10Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > And just how is tanking the economy and raising oil prices while opening the US to vengeance counter attacks supposed to help Republicans in the election? I’m sure the Republicans would say that those things aren’t going to happen. I imagine the logic is that war results in a surge of patriotism, and the Republicans are the party that really relishes its performative displays of jingoism. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/28 "2026-03-05T00:11:33Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not those damned files- it is the ongoing and upcoming 2026 elections that the Republicans might lose. This. Just look at how Trump is handling the outcome of the Republican senate primary in Texas. He knows the Republicans are set to lose big, and he’s flailing around for anything and everything to try to change that. > [@bump](#): > > What I don’t get is why he _cares_ about Iran? I mean in world politics they’re a pesty nation, but why now, and why to this degree? It’s not about Iran anymore than an abusive spouse who comes home drunk and angry and proceeds to kick the dog is about the dog (even if the dog is a yappy annoying type of dog). Trump and the Republicans are in some deep shit for the midterms, they don’t know how to handle it, so they’re lashing out at the nearest targets that can’t hit back (or at least not hit back very hard). ETA. Obviously it’s a huge deal to the dog / Iran, but to the abusive person it’s just a target of convenience. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/29 "2026-03-05T00:35:46Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Republicans are the party that really relishes its performative displays of jingoism. Especially when the performance is based on bombing a nation of brown people of a different religion. Especially one that humiliated the US nearly 50 years ago. A lot of right-wing chickenhawks of my acquaintance are mad we didn’t nuke Vietnam on our way out. It grinds their jaws to let anyone defeat us and continue to live. Some of the base is really big on payback. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/30 "2026-03-05T00:57:18Z")
IMO it’s a creeping realization of his own mortality. This is his twisted way of leaving a legacy, he wants to be remembered as a great war leader. There’s probably a fascist lackey involved somewhere too (specifically one whose interests are served by spreading fascism abroad not just in the US) who has the POTUS’ ear right now. But IMO whoever they are they just building on Trump’s own dread about his mortality. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/31 "2026-03-05T01:12:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > it is just a distraction to give the GOP and trump a boost in popularity. And yet I’m seeing a number of reports in the media that at least a portion of Trump’s base is outraged at him for getting us into a war with Iran, after running on a promise of avoiding foreign wars. How that anger will translate to part of the base staying home rather than voting, I have no clue, butone source I saw said his approval rating on the war was 27 percent – yes, the crazification factor level. If that was his reason, or one of them, it seems to have backfired. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/32 "2026-03-05T01:22:31Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I think the war is clearly Trump wagging the dog to take attention off of the Epstein files The specific timing of the Iran attack was clearly that. But there has been a radical shift in the second Trump administration towards military aggression that was not there in the first. That stands out as his other hideous fascist policies are all just extensions of things in the first term, taken to the extreme. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/33 "2026-03-05T01:41:51Z")
What nags me is that now Iran is actually free to carry out attacks on our homeland without them being “terrorist” attacks. Its not an act of terrorism when it’s in retaliation for an act war and the assassination of the head of their government. Isn’t what we did the equivalent to the Pearl Harbor attack? In fact since we were in negotiations with Iran and did not declare war before the assassination, then Iran would appear to have the right to freely attack us. Many nations would consider what we did a war crime. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/34 "2026-03-05T01:47:08Z")
Surely they’re not salty about all that hostage business that happened when I was in _first grade_? I mean I remember it, but what I was getting at with my commentary about wondering why other administrations didn’t slap Iran around was more in the vein of their sponsorship and support of terrorism and general destabilizing stuff in the Middle East for decades, and particularly during our occupation of Iraq. It seemed to me they did stuff just to be contrary that was getting people killed, and maybe a bit of judiciously applied military force might make them think twice in the future. But this is definitely something else. It’s baffling; there’s usually a sort of progression and calculus to these things- a sort of Clausewitzian “politics through other means” approach, but this is more of a personal bullying of another nation because he can, and because he thinks it makes him and the US look tough and not to be fucked with. In reality it makes us look capricious and scary, and not someone you want to have anything to do with if you can help it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/35 "2026-03-05T01:52:11Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > And just how is tanking the economy and raising oil prices while opening the US to vengeance counter attacks supposed to help Republicans in the election? It worked for Bush. War presidents get a lot of slack. Sure, likely not _this_ war or _this_ President, but it is a common political thing. > [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > This. Just look at how Trump is handling the outcome of the Republican senate primary in Texas. He knows the Republicans are set to lose big, and he’s flailing around for anything and everything to try to change that. Looks like it. Plus of course his ego and overall incompetence. > [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > And yet I’m seeing a number of reports in the media that at least a portion of Trump’s base is outraged at him for getting us into a war with Iran, after running on a promise of avoiding foreign wars. Yeah, just because that is A obvious reason, it doesnt mean it is working. Seems like it is not. But he had to try to do something. > [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > If that was his reason, or one of them, it seems to have backfired. Let us hope. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/36 "2026-03-05T01:52:57Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Isn’t what we did the equivalent to the Pearl Harbor attack? Totally different. The Empire of Japan didn’t decapitate the Executive Branch of the United States government by bombing the White House out of existence during a peacetime Cabinet meeting. Let’s not besmirch Japan with that comparison. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/37 "2026-03-05T01:58:34Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > And yet I’m seeing a number of reports in the media that at least a portion of Trump’s base is outraged at him for getting us into a war with Iran, after running on a promise of avoiding foreign wars. I picked one of the three polls at random to check, and 82 percent of Republicans approve: > **[Reuters%20Ipsos%20Iran%20Airstrike%20Topline%203.1.2026\_0.pdf](https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2026-03/Reuters%20Ipsos%20Iran%20Airstrike%20Topline%203.1.2026_0.pdf)** > > 391.51 KB My guess is that a lot of the Republicans who disapprove are so far right that they are locked in as Trump supporters. They also disapprove of Trump not having arrested folks like Hillary Clinton. But they also don’t expect Trump is be, from their POV, perfect. At least, they will be thinking, there was no ground war. The bombing will be long over by election day, and they will be onto something else. Another guess is that most of the Republicans who now say they approve would have been against it a month ago. They approve because Trump ordered it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/38 "2026-03-05T02:08:51Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I picked one of the three polls at random to check, and 82 percent of Republicans approve: I have seen slightly lower numbers, but remember fellow SDMBers- GOP will vote GOP, Dem will vote Dem, but the about 1/3 of "independent " voters decide the election. 44% disapprove, 19% approved- > **[Republicans, independent voters grapple with Trump's strikes on Iran](https://abcnews.com/Politics/republicans-independent-voters-grapple-trumps-strikes-iran/story?id=130682956)** > > Half a dozen Republican and independent voters who have expressed at least some support for Trump expressed a range of views on the ongoing campaign. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/39 "2026-03-05T02:19:10Z")
_Barely_ **Moderating** : Just as a reminder, we’re starting to move past the reasons why and into predicted consequences. So far it’s still within the fuzzy lines about speculation about _why_ Trump made the choices, but speculating about what _will_ happen is for the sister thread. I know it’s a bit frustrating, but we’re really trying to keep the conversations to appropriate threads and not, ahem, cross the streams. Barely moderating as I said, because I don’t think we’ve crossed the line, so just a gentle reminder. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209/40 "2026-03-05T02:50:26Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Surely they’re not salty about all that hostage business that happened when I was in _first grade_? That, and daring to throw off the dictator we forced on them. We hate them for the same reason we hate Cuba; they both dared _defy us_ and got away without being properly punished for defying their rightful masters with a war of conquest, an occupation and plenty of mass killing. That, and being Muslim and Communist, respectively; they dare defy the True Religion. That said, I doubt any of that is _Trump’s_ motive; he’s a narcissist. The people around him yes, Trump personally no. Trump cares about profit, ego and personal vengeance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-trumps-underlying-reasons-for-bombing-iran-and-other-targets/1028209.md?page=3)