Anderson Cooper Slips In Ace Zinger About Trump's Iran Strategy To Colbert

The CNN host got off several cracks at the administration's war on 'The Late Show'.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:25am

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An abstract, high-contrast close-up image of shattered glass and cracked ceramic, conveying a sense of fragmentation and chaos through the use of dramatic studio lighting and extreme macro photography.The Trump administration's haphazard approach to the Iran conflict has left foreign policy in a state of disarray, with the president's frequent golf outings and claims of victory further muddying the waters.West Palm Beach Today

CNN host Anderson Cooper poked at President Donald Trump and his administration's approach to the Iran war during an appearance on 'The Late Show' with Stephen Colbert. Cooper questioned Trump's attempt to quickly hammer out a deal to shut down Iran's nuclear ambitions, saying such agreements require months of work and can't be done 'on the fly on a golf course'. Cooper also criticized the administration's unclear 'metric for success' in the conflict, saying the 'fog of war' is emanating from 'a giant machine at the White House'.

Why it matters

Cooper's comments highlight the ongoing criticism of the Trump administration's foreign policy strategy, particularly around the Iran conflict. The president's frequent golf outings and claims of victory have drawn scrutiny, with concerns that the administration lacks a clear plan and is making decisions hastily.

The details

During the interview, Cooper said experts have told him that nuclear agreements like the one former President Barack Obama forged with Iran (which Trump later canceled) require months of detailed work to hammer out. Cooper said Trump can't 'just kind of do it on the fly on a golf course'. The CNN host also criticized the administration's 'metric for success' in the Iran conflict, saying the 'fog of war' is coming from 'a giant machine at the White House' rather than the typical confusion soldiers face in battle.

  • By late March 2026, President Trump had already logged 56 visits to his golf course in West Palm Beach and 150 days golfing in his second term.
  • Trump has claimed victory over Iran multiple times during the conflict.

The players

Anderson Cooper

The host of CNN's 'Anderson Cooper 360°' who appeared on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' to discuss the Trump administration's approach to the Iran conflict.

Stephen Colbert

The host of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', where he interviewed Anderson Cooper about the Trump administration's Iran strategy.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who has been criticized for his administration's handling of the Iran conflict, including his frequent golf outings and claims of victory.

Barack Obama

The former President of the United States who negotiated the nuclear deal with Iran that Trump later canceled.

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Secretary of Defense who was mocked by Anderson Cooper for appearing to pass off lines from 'Pulp Fiction' as scripture.

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What they’re saying

“'There's a lot of details you gotta work out. You can't just kind of do it on the fly on a golf course.'”

— Anderson Cooper, CNN Host

“'Rarely does that fog emanate from a giant machine at the White House.'”

— Anderson Cooper, CNN Host

“'So technically this is the fog of peace.'”

— Anderson Cooper, CNN Host

What’s next

The Trump administration will likely continue to face scrutiny over its Iran strategy, particularly as the conflict continues and the president's frequent golf outings and claims of victory draw further criticism.

The takeaway

Cooper's comments on 'The Late Show' highlight the ongoing concerns about the Trump administration's foreign policy approach, with questions around the lack of a clear plan and the president's tendency to make decisions hastily, often while golfing. The administration's handling of the Iran conflict has become a major point of contention.