Conservative Blasts Trump's 'Idiotic' Iran War

The Bulwark commentator says Trump and his team have 'no understanding' of the conflict.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 7:04pm

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A conservative commentator from The Bulwark has joined a growing chorus of criticism from Trump's own right-wing base, describing the president's war with Iran as 'led by idiots and incompetents.' The commentator, Jonathan V. Last, argues that the Trump administration has completely misunderstood Iran's military capabilities and strategy, and that the war is not going as well as the president claims.

Why it matters

Trump's handling of the conflict with Iran has become a divisive issue, even among his traditionally supportive conservative base. The criticism from figures like Last highlights the growing concerns about the president's grasp of the situation and the potential for the war to spiral out of control.

The details

Last wrote that the American military is now admitting the Iranian regime is 'adapting to the Israeli–American onslaught and finding our weaknesses,' contrary to Trump's claims of an easy victory. He questioned how the 'commander-in-chief and his secretary of defense' could have 'misunderestimated Iran so completely.' Last also criticized Trump's assertions that he could end the war 'any time I want,' noting that Iranian doctrine does not depend on maintaining a navy or air force, areas where the U.S. has claimed success.

  • On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Jonathan V. Last published his critical commentary in The Bulwark.
  • Earlier on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, President Trump reiterated his claims of success in the war with Iran in an interview with Axios.
  • On Friday, March 6, 2026, Trump made similar comments about the war being 'very complete' during an event at his Doral, Florida golf club.

The players

Jonathan V. Last

A conservative commentator writing for The Bulwark, a conservative media outlet.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who has insisted that America is winning its war against Iran.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The Prime Minister of Israel, who reportedly convinced Trump that the U.S. would easily win the war against Iran.

Mojtaba Khamenei

The new Supreme Leader of Iran, who may be even more hard-line than his father.

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What they’re saying

“The American military is now telling the New York Times that, far from collapsing, the Iranian regime is adapting to the Israeli–American onslaught and finding our weaknesses.”

— Jonathan V. Last, Conservative commentator

“if it is true that the Israelis sold America a bill of goods and deluded American war planners into believing that killing the ayatollah would lead to regime collapse, then I don't even know what to say.”

— Jonathan V. Last, Conservative commentator

“This man—the commander-in-chief—has no understanding of the war he is running.”

— Jonathan V. Last, Conservative commentator

“Well, it just seems so insane, based on what he ran on. I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right? He ran on, 'No more wars,' 'End these stupid, senseless wars,' and then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it.”

— Joe Rogan, Podcaster

What’s next

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The takeaway

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