The Democrats Fading Credibility On Iran – One America Information Community

[ad_1] <img decoding="async" width="800" height="534" src="https://www.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2271239864-800x534.jpg" alt="TEHRAN, IRAN - APRIL 17: A person holds a rifle while riding in a car during a pro-government National Army Day demonstration on April 17, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. On April 8, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. Peace talks facilitated by Pakistan have yet to produce a lasting resolution, with major remaining issues being Iran's nuclear capabilities and control of the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)" class="wp-image-770650"/> An individual holds a rifle whereas driving in a automobile throughout a pro-government Nationwide Military Day demonstration on April 17, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. (Photograph by Majid Saeedi/Getty Photos)

OAN Commentary by: Richard PollockFriday, April 17, 2026

For the reason that struggle with Iran started on February 28, Democrats and progressives have been on a rhetorical warpath, claiming Trump is a madman, a maniac and that he'll finally face defeat and humiliation from Iran.

They declare the President had no struggle plans, no technique and predicted he would badly lose this struggle.

However now, issues are a bit completely different right now because the Dow briefly spiked to 1,000, finish at 800 and remarkably, the worth of oil settled at $85 per barrel. There's optimism in lots of quarters right here in DC tonight that maybe it’s the Mullahs who're on the run.

Most dramatically, after cowardly handwringing from Europe and hysteria from Democrats, Trump’s was capable of drive the Mullahs to unconditionally reopen the Straits of Hormuz and apparently to yield on nuclear weapons.

It’s additionally vital to do not forget that initially, the Iranians very publicly balked at assembly with the People. Then they out of the blue determined to satisfy with a U.S. delegation led by Vice President J.D. Vance.

Not solely is the Strait as soon as once more open at no cost commerce, however critically, for the second, the Mullahs are nonetheless blocked from utilizing their very own ports and are denied vital oil income, particularly from China.

There are strategies from the White Home that there could also be extra talks as early as this weekend. May there be additional concessions from Tehran?

Now, maybe, it’s vital to do not forget that because the struggle started, Democrats have prophesied humiliating defeat for Donald Trump. But each time the President has hit the Mullahs with dramatic ultimatums, it has been Tehran that’s yielded.

This isn’t to say that the struggle is over and that Tehran is totally defeated. That may take time, and we probably will see extra public Presidential threats, extra showdowns and extra zig zags from the Oval Workplace.

And there are different acknowledged objectives by the President, together with regime change.

However to this point, for the entire huffing and puffing and dire warnings from Democrats, Donald Trump right now appears like a winner and a crafty world strategist.

That’s as a result of those that have adopted him know Trump is the last word negotiator and dealmaker. He weaves backwards and forwards. If you happen to don’t imagine this, learn his e book, “The Artwork of the Deal.”

So, for the second, let’s assessment the Doomsday predictions from his Democratic opponents and ask, who has been proper and fallacious concerning the Iran struggle?

And most significantly, who has gained credibility and who has misplaced it?

It's possible you'll recall Donald Trump gave Iran a deadline of 8 p.m. Japanese Time on April 7 to open peace negotiations with the U.S. – or else face whole, civilizational destruction.

The president wrote on the morning of April 7 on Fact Social that except “completely different, smarter, and fewer radicalized minds prevail, perhaps one thing revolutionarily fantastic can occur. In any other case, Iran’s complete civilization will die tonight, by no means to be introduced again once more.”

After all, we now know that inside two hours of the deadline, the Iranians have been those to yield and truly agreed to speak to Washington.

However earlier than the deadline and Donald’s dramatic threats, right here’s what Democrats needed to say:

On X, the Jewish Senator and Democratic Minority Chief Chuck Schumer – who seems extra cognitively frail with every passing day – wrote to Christians on Easter Sunday,, “Glad Easter, America. As you head off to church and rejoice with family and friends, the President of america is ranting like an unhinged madman on social media.”

“That is a particularly sick individual,” Schumer wrote on X. “Every Republican who refuses to hitch us in voting towards this wanton struggle of alternative owns each consequence of regardless of the hell that is. He’s threatening potential struggle crimes and alienating allies.”

One other Jewish Senator, Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, referred to as Trump’s ultimatum to Iran, “harmful and mentally unbalanced.” He stated on X: “One month after beginning the struggle in Iran, that is the assertion of the President of america on Easter Sunday. These are the ravings of a harmful and mentally unbalanced particular person. Congress has received to behave NOW. Finish this struggle.”

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy referred to as him fully unhinged. He wrote on X: “If I have been in Trump’s Cupboard, I'd spend Easter calling constitutional attorneys concerning the twenty fifth Modification. That is fully, totally unhinged. He’s already killed 1000's. He’s going to kill 1000's extra.”

“That's pure evil,” the Senator added.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee who has sat in on the entire administration’s categorized briefings additionally chimed in, calling Trump’s risk towards Tehran, “twisted and unhinged.”

On April 12, talking on CNN, Senator Warner, stated Trump’s plan to blockade the Strait couldn’t presumably work. He stated, “I don't know…how he’s going to get it opened.”

Maryland’s Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Von Hollen, who has turn into almost rabid about Israel and accused the Jewish state of “textbook struggle crimes” additionally sat in on categorized briefings. He instructed reporters final month, ““What you hear behind closed doorways is actually what we’re listening to within the public area, which is full incoherence,”

On April 15, Democrats pushed their fourth Struggle Powers Act within the Senate. The decision, led by Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, would have directed President Trump “to take away america Armed Forces from hostilities inside or towards Iran, except explicitly licensed by a declaration of struggle or a particular authorization to be used of army drive.”

Talking at a information convention Tuesday, Duckworth stated, “we can not let this chaos proceed unchecked.

Then there are the Iranians themselves.

The day earlier than Easter, Mehdi Tabatabaei, the deputy spokesman for Iran’s president triumphally stated that Iran would solely open the strait after receiving billions of {dollars} in compensation for struggle damages, paid through a “new authorized regime” based mostly on transit charges.

Effectively, that demand has vaporized, as have almost all Iranian threats.

Public predictions in entrance of TV cameras could make a political determine seem sensible, savvy, knowledgeable and deeply educated. Till, in fact, there comes the crash of actuality.

Don’t depend Donald Trump out. He's a shrewd and I'd say, an amazingly suave negotiator.

And don’t take his public statements at face worth. They're negotiating stances.

Except, in fact, you wish to appear to be a public idiot.

(Views expressed by visitor commentators could not replicate the views of OAN or its associates.)

Richard Pollock is a former New Left activist and was a roommate with Chicago 7 defendant Rennie Davis. He understands New Left technique and techniques. For 4 many years, Richard was an investigative reporter based mostly in Washington, D.C. Amongst his positions, he served because the senior investigative reporter for the Washington Examiner, the Every day Caller Information Basis, and at OAN. Whereas at OAN he served within the Washington, D.C. bureau and hosted its investigative reporting specials. He's semi-retired and his posts from D.C. could be learn on Substack.com