Does Donald Trump remember who started the war in Iran?
5/5/202632 min
Donald Trump launched "Project Freedom" over the bank holiday weekend - a "humanitarian gesture", aimed at guaranteeing the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz still stubbornly being controlled by Iran.
The Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, announced today a "red white and blue dome" over the area as he insisted that the US holds all the cards in the conflict. There's just one problem: nobody seems to be buying it. Ships aren't moving through the Strait in any real volume, and there were fresh attacks from both sides over the weekend despite a ceasefire. Has Trump forgotten who started this war? And have other world leaders stopped listening to him?
Later, has Zac Polanski peaked too soon ahead of the local elections on Thursday? One poll shows his approval ratings plummeting over the last week - why?
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsHugh Hewitt· Soundbite0:00
[upbeat jingle] This is a Global Player original podcast.
Jon Sopel· Host0:05
This is all happening because Donald Trump realizes he is in a corner now over the Strait of Hormuz.
Emily Maitlis· Host0:12
We have got to a place where Trump believes that he is the savior of this war now, not the perpetrator.
Jon Sopel· Host0:18
There is now a red, white, and blue dome over the Strait of Hormuz, and it's safe for commercial shipping to pass.
Emily Maitlis· Host0:26
You can't just come in and sort of, you know, play the white knight.
Jon Sopel· Host0:30
Does anyone believe him?
Donald Trump· Soundbite0:32
Direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white, and blue dome over the Strait. American destroyers are on station supported by hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and surveillance aircraft, providing twenty-four/seven overwatch for peaceful commercial vessels. Except Iran's, of course.
Jon Sopel· Host0:55
That is Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary or Secretary of War, just a few moments ago at the Pentagon saying, "Forget iron domes, there is now a red, white, and blue dome over the Strait of Hormuz, which means it is now safe for commercial shipping to pass."
Emily Maitlis· Host1:12
They're calling it Project Freedom, America trying to tell the rest of the world it's safe to go through the Strait of Hormuz. Does anyone believe them? Welcome to the News Agents.
Hugh Hewitt· Soundbite1:24
[upbeat jingle] The News Agents.