Trump tests a new approach in Iran: Regime change without owning the fight

"They have waged war against civilization itself. We're undertaking this massive operation not merely to ensure security for our own time and place, but for our children and their children, just as our ancestors have done for us many, many years ago. This is the duty and the burden of a free people."

"Trump has taken an approach to selling U.S. citizens on military action in Iran that sharply contrasts with his predecessors: He devoted three minutes of his 108-minute State of the Union address to the issue, spoke to Americans through social media posts and a pair of videos recorded at Mar-a-Lago but made no public appearances since a Friday rally in Corpus Christi, Texas."

"From the outset, Trump has been careful to declare limits around the U.S. attack, saying he wanted to overthrow the current regime, but telling Iranians it was up to them to seize the opportunity to write their country's next chapter. His communication strategy has reinforced those limits by creating a bit of distance - at least in imagery - between the president and the fighting."

President Trump employed a distinct communication strategy following the U.S. military action against Iran's supreme leader, contrasting sharply with previous presidents who used formal Cabinet Room addresses or televised announcements. Trump relied on Truth Social posts, recorded videos from Mar-a-Lago, and minimal public appearances, dedicating only three minutes of his State of the Union address to the issue. This approach created distance between the president and military operations while allowing flexibility to avoid full ownership of consequences. Trump framed the intervention with expansive rhetoric about defending civilization, while simultaneously declaring limits on U.S. involvement and suggesting Iranians must determine their country's future.

Read at The Washington Post