TACO

President Trump's signing of the Iranian peace accord at the Palace of Versailles in France

I want to begin with a confession: I was wrong about Donald Trump.

I never liked Donald J. Trump as a person, but I respected what he had accomplished and believed he possessed something many recent presidents lacked: a willingness to confront America’s adversaries without apology.

In a world where strongmen like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin rule through intimidation and force, I thought America needed a leader who could speak their language. After watching America win wars on the battlefield only to lose leverage at the negotiating table, I concluded it was time for the United States to act like the superpower it is.

I believed Trump would be that leader.

My doubts began when I watched President Trump berate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while Ukraine fought for its survival against Russian aggression.

The recent confrontation with Iran changed my mind completely.

After Israel severely degraded Iran’s military capabilities and created an opportunity for the United States to strike key nuclear facilities, Trump appeared poised to demonstrate the resolve that had defined his political brand. Instead, after the strikes, he quickly declared success and signaled a desire to move on before the strategic consequences had fully played out.

What troubles me is not any single decision but a pattern. In both Ukraine and Iran, I expected a president who would project strength and reinforce American credibility. Instead, I saw a leader more eager to disengage than press an advantage.

Trump’s supporters have long argued that his greatest strength is toughness. Critics dismissed that image with the acronym “TACO” — “Trump Always Chickens Out” — suggesting that his aggressive rhetoric often exceeds his willingness to follow through.

I rejected that criticism. Today, I am no longer so sure. Perhaps this is a tactical retreat driven by political realities. I doubt it.

America needs a leader who does more than talk tough. We need a leader whose allies trust his word and whose adversaries fear testing it.

— Sina.