The Incoherence of Trump’s Past Week of Foreign Policy

In the past week, President Trump's foreign policy has been described as incoherent and without a clear strategy. The Iran nuclear deal that was meant to end the conflict between the two countries has expired, but the agreement had already largely failed to produce any meaningful results. Trump's approach has been erratic, with his administration unable to agree on goals and even clashing with his vice president.

Trump's call for Americans to accept higher gasoline prices in order to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is contradictory, as his administration previously assessed Iran was not actively building weapons. The president has publicly clashed with uniformed commanders over conditions for American troops stationed abroad, with some troops reporting shortages of supplies and mental health issues.

Vice President Vance has stated that lowering fuel prices is now "goal No. 1" of the war, while Trump continues to claim Iran is bad-faith negotiators. He even suggested declaring the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory, a claim that contradicts earlier statements and the neutrality of the strait.

Meanwhile, Oman is negotiating with Iran to create a toll system for ships, but Trump has threatened to bomb Oman in response. This type of conflict with allies has become increasingly common in Trump's foreign policy. His son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met with Hamas officials, attempting to restart a plan to disarm the group and rebuild Gaza, a plan which has encountered significant resistance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

At the same time, Trump has cut back on joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un. This decision has been criticized, as it may benefit North Korea without addressing their nuclear program. The White House's approach to foreign policy has been characterized by a lack of clear goals and a tendency to act impulsively.