On February 28, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an extensive attack by the U.S. in alliance with Israel. Khamenei assembled theocratic power in an attempt to strengthen the region, especially through the development of a nuclear program. As was the case during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the entirety of the Cold War, the U.S.’ fear of other nations’ ability to use nuclear weapons or outdo U.S. weapons industries causes the government to be intensely suspicious and sometimes hostile to other nations, despite the country’s own nuclear prowess.
Curiously, in 2017, the United Nations convened to negotiate a legally binding instrument with the goal of prohibiting and eventually eliminating nuclear weaponry. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons prohibits the deployment, development, testing, production, acquisition, possession, stockpiling and threatening of nuclear weapons. Despite the convention happening in New York, the U.S. notably did not sign.
The U.S. increasingly demonstrates a hypocrisy between peace goals and peace actions. On his campaign trail, President Donald J. Trump declared himself “President of Peace.” In his inauguration speech, he said, “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be: a peacemaker and a unifier.” Then, the Department of Defense was renamed the Department of War and on March 1, and the White House published an article titled “Peace Through Strength: President Trump Launches Operation Epic Fury to Crush Iranian Regime, End Nuclear Threat.”
Despite the peace propaganda perpetuated by the Trump administration, in 2018 Trump pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran Nuclear Deal, which the U.S. signed in 2015. On March 2, Trump submitted a War Powers Resolution notification to Congress, admitting to the commission of an act of war and justifying his administration’s actions as precautionary. He noted, “(It) is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that may be necessary,” giving himself permission to continue his Iranian military escapade.
The hypocrisy within the Trump administration’s words versus actions is blatant. This wave of violent, aggressive and chaotic action aligns with the Project 2025 agenda’s plan to “flood the zone.” In the first 100 days of his presidency, Trump signed executive orders nearly daily. The adherence to a strategy of exhaustion, chaos and excessively visible action displays a need to construct a brutally dominant image.
The horrific bombing of Iran comes in the wake of the release of 3.5 million pages of the Epstein files and the upcoming midterm elections. Calling a state of emergency, as a precautionary defense for any retaliation coming from Iran, or as a response to the inevitable continuation of war which the U.S. is now directly involved in, could allow the president to take more control of elections. In the same way that the PATRIOT Act claimed to bring freedom through security, the declaration of a state of emergency could lean on safety and security as a reason to restrict citizens rights, such as voting. When asked about the potential to use the bombing as reason to call a state of emergency, Trump said, “Who told you that?” then subsequently followed with, “No, I’ve never heard about it,” showing his dishonest nature and admitting to guilt.
The Trump administration continues to push an overly masculinized version of power through military dominance despite running a campaign of peace. It continues to abuse executive authority and delegitimize governmental processes despite claiming respect for the country. It continues to portray Trump himself heroically and righteously despite his excessive involvement in the Epstein files. The administration has always been hypocritical. The strategy has always been to overwhelm. The strategy has always been a distraction.
Kiy Kamikura is a first-year at the School of Arts and Sciences majoring in English and political science and minoring in creative writing and law and history. Kamikura’s column, “A Supreme Guide to Politics,” runs on alternate Mondays.
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