By Suresh Unnithan
Trump’s self-promotion as a global icon for harmony has crash- landed, thanks to the Israel-Iran armed conflict. The unexpected fiasco he had to confront in the war has abruptly upset his drive to grab a Nobel Prize for peace.
The tailspin the war took during the last five days of the conflict forced Trump to unilaterally declare a ceasefire and that explains his perplexity on the progress of the war which he grossly underestimated. The war has methodically exposed the vulnerability of Israel, considered a protégé of US and this was a knock-back to Benjamin Netanyahu and his sponsor Donald Trump, President of an ‘invincible’ nation.
Israel, hitherto glorified as an unassailable military might, has been proved just an unexceptional military power, thanks to onslaught from Iran a low-ranking firepower. However political observers point out “more than Israel’s Netanyahu, the war inflicted severe dent to the exaggerated image of Donald Trump, who projected himself as a leader with competence to command the Globe.”
In fact, the World was witnessing Trump’s initial arrogance plummeting to total malady, and the mighty leader was seen persuading for a ceasefire when Iran pounded US airbase in Qatar with no mercy. Iran was retaliating to Trump’s bombing on its critical military research facilities.
Trump’s rhetoric during the beginning of the Israel-Iran conflict was characterized, confrontational outbursts followed by apparent retractions or shifts in tone, which were largely labelled as erratic, irresponsible, immature and unbecoming of a responsible leader. For instance, posts on X highlighted Trump’s initial aggressive posture, including threatening Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and demanding “unconditional surrender.” He even claimed the US had “total control” over Iran’s skies and warned Tehran’s 10 million residents to evacuate the capital city.
Trump had declared the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities a “spectacular success” and later acknowledged negotiations as a potential off-ramp. But Iran later retaliated in the same coin by blasting a US military base in Qatar. This attack compelled Trump to negotiate a ceasefire with Iran, many believe.
However, this shift has fuelled criticism that Trump’s initial bravado lacked strategic depth, aligning with your observation of “imbalanced and immature” statements. Critics, including some global leaders, argue this haughty approach—marked by hyperbolic threats followed by backtracking—undermine the gravitas expected of a US president.
It is evident; the Israel-Iran conflict has indeed dented Trump’s international credibility. China’s condemnation of U.S. strikes as damaging to Washington’s credibility reflects a broader sentiment among some nations, particularly those reliant on Iran, basically for energy, or opposed to US interventionism. Russia and China also slammed the strikes, signalling diplomatic fallout.
Posts on X noted that US allies were “rattled” by Trump’s actions, suggesting unease with his unpredictable rhetoric and unilateral strikes. This aligns with commentary from The Guardian, which argued that Trump’s “reckless gamble” in bombing “Iran’s nuclear sites, driven by alignment with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, risks long-term destabilization and diminishes trust in US leadership.”
On Domestic front, Democrats, such as Senators Tim Kaine and Chuck Schumer, criticized Trump for bypassing Congress, calling his actions “horrible judgement” and a violation of constitutional norms. This suggests that his unilateral approach, coupled with inflammatory rhetoric, eroded his credibility among political opponents who view his actions as reckless.
To worsen his worries further, there is a visible slump in Trump’s overall approval rating, post conflict. CNN/SSRS Poll Conducted immediately after the US strikes (June 22-23, 2025) found a majority of Americans disapproved of Trump’s decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll (June 21-23, 2025) found Trump’s approval rating at 41%, the lowest of his second term, with 57% disapproving. The Economist/YouGov poll showed a sharp decline among adults under 30, with approval falling to 27% and disapproval rising to 66%.
The Israel-Iran conflict of June 2025 has severely damaged Trump’s credibility and acceptance, particularly due to his provocative and inconsistent rhetoric, which global leaders and analysts have criticized as immature and undermining. However he was wise enough to realise, a prolonged Israel-Iran war could further damage his already sullied image, due to widespread public opposition (60% against military involvement), economic fallout from oil price spikes, and perceptions of reckless leadership. An experienced former Indian diplomat points out “Trump has displayed to the World how a leader should not be. It’s a warning to many. ”
