Trump’s ‘peacemaker’ promise faces growing test as Iran war drags on

President Donald Trump's promise to be a "peacemaker" and resolve international conflicts is facing increasing scrutiny as the Iran war grinds on and other global disputes remain unsettled. These foreign policy challenges loom large as Trump heads toward the November midterm elections, potentially impacting the Republican party's control of Congress.

The setbacks are particularly striking for a president who centered his second-term agenda on resolving international conflicts. Trump has shown growing impatience with critical questions, recently lashing out at journalists and reiterating a threat to bomb Oman, a U.S. ally involved in negotiations concerning the Strait of Hormuz. The traditional acceleration of U.S. election campaigns after Labor Day on Sept. 7 means unresolved conflicts abroad and their economic consequences at home could pose a significant threat.

Trump's strategy appears to be shifting, with talks with Tehran called off and a new campaign of "economic warfare" announced. This pivot follows months of military actions that failed to yield desired concessions from Iran. As inflation continues and the Iran war contributes to higher gasoline prices, Trump's approval rating has dropped to a low of 33%, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. His administration's other peace initiatives have also stalled, with his son-in-law Jared Kushner returning empty-handed from Gaza peace talks and an anticipated visit to Kyiv to revive Ukraine negotiations yet to materialize.

While Trump achieved early foreign policy successes, including a Gaza ceasefire and the capture of Venezuela's leader, his record is increasingly marked by stalled diplomatic efforts. "Trump has successfully challenged and disrupted the comfortable foreign policy consensus in Washington, but has not translated that disruption into a strategy with deliverables for Americans," noted Asli Aydintasbas, a fellow at the Brookings Institution. The Iran conflict, in particular, is said to be weighing "intensely" on the president, with no clear consensus within the White House on a resolution. The pressure could mount if markets perceive the war as prolonged, potentially increasing U.S. borrowing costs and hindering Trump's domestic agenda.

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Trump has successfully challenged and disrupted the comfortable foreign policy consensus in Washington, but has not translated that disruption into a strategy with deliverables for Americans.