In early March, during one of his many phone conversations with reporters, President Donald Trump posed a revealing question to ABC News' Jonathan Karl: "How do you like the performance?" The query came as Trump sought to explain his decision to initiate military conflict with Iran. Karl noted public concerns about what might follow, to which Trump dismissively replied: "Forget about 'next.'"
A Familiar Pattern of Contradiction
We have witnessed this presidential performance before. When the COVID-19 virus began spreading globally in early 2020, Trump's response to his first major emergency revealed a leader completely out of his depth. Starting in January 2020, he declared COVID-19 "totally under control," claiming "It's one person coming in from China." Throughout February, he continued downplaying the threat, asserting infections were "going down, not up" and that the stock market was "starting to look very good to me!" He predicted the virus would simply "go away" by spring.
Yet when reality set in after nationwide shutdowns began on March 13, Trump performed an abrupt about-face, claiming on March 17: "I've always known this is a — this is a real — this is a pandemic. I've felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic." This dangerous performance came from a president already known for erratic behavior and disinterest in the hard work of governance.
Parallel Crisis Management Approaches
Now, with the Iran conflict, Trump has created a global crisis through his own actions, yet his approach shows remarkable consistency with his pandemic response. The pattern includes contradictory statements, absurd proposed solutions, refusal to accept responsibility, and general indifference to human suffering.
The war's duration has become subject to ever-shifting timeframes, mirroring Trump's declarations that COVID-19 would "disappear" quickly. Initially claiming the conflict would conclude in four to five weeks, Trump later stated on March 9 that the war was already "very complete, pretty much." Contradicting himself again, he declared the conflict wouldn't end until Iran's "unconditional surrender" or "when I feel it, feel it in my bones."
On March 19, Trump threatened to bomb Iran's energy infrastructure, only to announce two days later that the war was "winding down." He subsequently claimed "the war has been won" even as bombing campaigns continued across Iranian territory. A month into hostilities, Trump asserts he's making "great progress" in negotiations with Iran, while Iranian leaders maintain no such discussions are occurring.
Systematic Dismissal of Expertise
During the pandemic, Trump's administration failed to adequately prepare for the coming crisis, neglecting to stockpile tests or establish community testing regimens while focusing primarily on propping up markets with unrealistically optimistic statements. Two years earlier, he had eliminated the pandemic preparedness group within the National Security Council.
Similarly, Trump sidelined experts and failed to properly plan for Iran's inevitable response: closing the Strait of Hormuz, which carries twenty percent of global oil supplies. The State Department's oil and gas experts were dismissed in 2025 during DOGE's bureaucratic overhaul, removing critical expertise precisely when it was needed most. DOGE's cuts to the State Department also hampered the agency's ability to assist Americans urged to flee Gulf states under Iranian attack.
According to CNN, briefings from the Treasury and Energy Departments regarding the impact of a Strait of Hormuz closure were treated as "secondary considerations" before launching the war. The Wall Street Journal reported similar disregard for warnings from Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine.
Despite reportedly receiving briefings about potential Iranian retaliation, Trump expressed shock when Iran attacked Gulf Arab states with missiles and drones, further damaging energy infrastructure. The result has been a gradually intensifying energy shock that could rival or surpass the 1970s oil crises if hostilities continue, potentially leading to shortages, rationing, and gas station lines.
Economic Consequences and Absurd Solutions
Crude oil prices have already surged forty percent to exceed $100 per barrel, while gasoline prices have increased approximately thirty-five percent nationwide. Energy experts warn markets remain overly optimistic, with oil potentially reaching $200 per barrel if the war continues through April. The International Energy Agency recently urged consumers to reduce energy consumption to address what it called "the largest supply disruption in the history of the oil market."
In response to this self-created crisis, Trump has proposed solutions as absurd as his pandemic-era suggestions that people inject disinfectant or halt testing to reduce infection numbers. After a year of insulting, threatening to invade, and imposing tariffs on U.S. allies, Trump urged these nations to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Every major country rejected this request, after which Trump claimed "we don't need" the strategic waterway, but "it would be nice" for oil-dependent countries to solve the problem he created.
The administration has also considered invading Iran to seize Kharg Island, a vital hub for Iran's oil export industry, despite Trump's earlier claim that "I'm not putting troops anywhere." He has already deployed 5,000 Marines to the region. Alternatively, he might simply leave the mess for others to resolve, as suggested by his social media post urging European and Asian countries: "[B]uild up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. Iran has been essentially decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!"
A Different Kind of Crisis
While Trump's kakistocratic performance echoes his blundering during the COVID-19 pandemic, the current crisis differs fundamentally. War represents a human endeavor that can only be initiated and concluded by human decision-makers, unlike a public health epidemic. No mRNA vaccine will resolve this conflict. Ending the crisis will require Trump to finally take responsibility for his own actions and decisions.
