U.S. President Donald Trump is massing forces in the Middle East and considering a strike on Iran, while parts of his administration warn of political consequences ahead of the elections.
President Donald Trump has brought the country to the brink of war with Iran, even as his aides urge a greater focus on voters’ economic concerns, raising political risks of military escalation ahead of this year’s congressional elections, Bljesak.info reports.
Trump has ordered a significant buildup of U.S. forces in the Middle East and preparations for potential multi-day, or even multi-week, airstrikes on Iran. However, he has not explained in detail to the American public why the United States might launch its most aggressive action against the Islamic Republic since the 1979 Revolution.
As Reuters reports, Trump’s focus on Iran has become the clearest example of how foreign policy, including an expanded use of military force, has dominated his priorities during the first 13 months of his term, often overshadowing domestic issues such as the cost of living, which public opinion polls show is a far more pressing concern for most Americans.
A senior White House official said that despite the president’s hawkish rhetoric, there is no “unified support” within the administration for launching an attack on Iran. The official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, also stressed the need to avoid sending a “mixed message” to undecided voters more concerned about the state of the economy.
White House advisers and Republican campaign officials want Trump to focus primarily on the economy, which was emphasized as a key campaign issue during a private briefing this week attended by several cabinet members, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Trump did not attend.
Another White House official, responding to Reuters’ questions, said Trump’s foreign policy agenda has “directly translated into wins for the American people.”
“All of the president’s decisions put America first, whether by creating a safer world or by delivering economic benefits at home,” the official said.
November will determine whether Trump’s Republican Party retains control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress. Losing one or both chambers to opposition Democrats would pose a serious challenge for Trump in the final years of his presidency.
