Trump avoiding repeating history in Iran

President's approach differs from past military interventions

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:55am

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History doesn't always repeat itself, and President Trump appears to be learning from past mistakes in foreign policy. Unlike Woodrow Wilson and George W. Bush, Trump has taken a more measured approach in dealing with adversaries like Iran, focusing on precision strikes and avoiding a large-scale military occupation. The article suggests Trump's goal is to prevent leaders of adversary nations from doing bad things beyond their borders, rather than pursuing internal regime change.

Why it matters

The article argues that Trump's approach in Iran and elsewhere represents a departure from past military interventions that often led to quagmires and public backlash. By avoiding a large troop presence and focusing on targeted strikes, Trump may be able to achieve his objectives without repeating the mistakes of the past.

The details

The article compares Trump's approach to past presidents like Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt, noting that Trump has included Republicans in post-war planning and relied on precision bombing and electronic surveillance to target regime leaders. This has allowed Trump to avoid a visible conquest or occupation, reducing the risk of negative media coverage and public backlash.

  • In February 2026, the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president whose approach to foreign policy in Iran and elsewhere is the focus of the article.

Woodrow Wilson

A former president who refused to involve Republicans in treaty negotiations after World War I, leading to the rejection of his treaty version by the Senate.

Franklin Roosevelt

A former president who included Republicans in post-war and treaty planning during World War II, ensuring bipartisan support for the United Nations and other post-war initiatives.

Niall Ferguson

A historian who wrote about the analogy between the current attacks on Iran and the invasion of Iraq nearly 23 years ago.

Nate Silver

A polling analyst who described the "traditional model: Rally-around-the-flag, then quagmire and backlash" that critics expected to see in response to the attacks on Iran.

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What they’re saying

“For the habitual critics of U.S. foreign policy in general and Donald Trump's in particular, the analogy between today's air raids against Iran and the invasion of Iraq nearly 23 years ago is too obvious to be resisted.”

— Niall Ferguson, Historian

“There would be a familiar refrain, dating back to protests against Democratic presidents' 1960s escalations in Vietnam — the 'traditional model: Rally-around-the-flag, then quagmire and backlash,'”

— Nate Silver, Polling analyst

The takeaway

Trump's approach in Iran and elsewhere represents a departure from past military interventions that often led to quagmires and public backlash. By avoiding a large troop presence and focusing on targeted strikes, Trump may be able to achieve his objectives without repeating the mistakes of the past.