Trump pulls back from the brink...but for how long?
4/8/202631 min
Donald Trump’s MAGA base - and the Republican party - are divided over his threats to wipe out an entire civilisation. In this episode, Justin, Anthony and Sarah unpack how we got from Trump’s annihilistic threats to the start of a two week ceasefire and new claims from the US president, that Iran will stop enriching uranium.
With both sides claiming victory, what are Donald Trump’s options now for ending the war, and how big a factor is keeping the support of his MAGA Republican base? With several prominent influencers and MAGA supporters speaking out against Trump, and the war, the Americast team look at who Trump is listening to in the Republican party, and what influences him.
We also look at the bigger issues around what happens now with the Strait of Hormuz and reports that Trump has also suggested the US could impose its own tolls on vessels in transit through the channel.
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
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This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsAnthony Zurcher· Host0:00
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.
Sarah Smith· Host0:03
[soft music] It's 2009, and we're in the German mountains. A man straps himself into a car on the world's most dangerous racetrack. He whispers to himself- "It's time to put my balls on the dashboard" ... as he starts the engine.
Speaker 20:18
In 15 minutes, he's in an ambulance unconscious. In 15 years, he's a billionaire.
Sarah Smith· Host0:23
This is Toto Wolff, Formula 1's most powerful team boss and the breakout star of Drive to Survive.
Speaker 20:29
This week on Good, Bad, Billionaire, how Toto Wolff made his billions. Listen wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
Justin Webb· Host0:35
Donald Trump invented a brink and then pulled back from his own brink. Is this genius or something else? This was the threat.
Donald Trump· Soundbite0:46
We have a, a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by twelve o'clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used again. I mean, complete demolition by twelve o'clock, and it'll happen over a period of four hours if we want it to.
Justin Webb· Host1:13
In the end, he didn't want to. It greatly upset, though, not only people around the world, but also some of his key supporters, who are also wondering now whether they still support the war that he started. Can he carry on without them? Welcome to Americast.