The Week: The Radical Primary Season

• We can’t wait for Bill Pulte to dig into Xi Jinping’s mortgage application.

• Notwithstanding the “cease-fire” between the United States and Iran, the Islamic Republic continues to lob missiles and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain. The U.S. has not responded to these attacks, and the House passed a resolution (which four Republicans supported alongside Democrats) against further strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told an interviewer that he’d like to meet his Iranian counterpart, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei: “We seem to be getting along quite well.” But the remnants of the Islamic Republic could be taking the president for a ride. On Iran’s behalf, Trump berated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for prosecuting a defensive war against Hezbollah—a concession to Iran for which Trump has gained nothing. The Sunni states gravitated toward the U.S. during the war because only the U.S. was defending their interests against Iranian aggression. Why would they keep their end of the bargain if Trump refuses to honor his? The president’s desperation for a deal threatens the gains he made during the war.

About the Author

NR Editors

NR Editors includes members of the editorial staff of our magazine and website.

• We can’t wait for Bill Pulte to dig into Xi Jinping’s mortgage application.

• Notwithstanding the “cease-fire” between the United States and Iran, the Islamic Republic continues to lob missiles and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain. The U.S. has not responded to these attacks, and the House passed a resolution (which four Republicans supported alongside Democrats) against further strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told an interviewer that he’d like to meet his Iranian counterpart, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei: “We seem to be getting along quite well.” But the remnants of the Islamic Republic could be taking the president for a ride. On Iran’s behalf, Trump berated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for prosecuting a defensive war against Hezbollah—a concession to Iran for which Trump has gained nothing. The Sunni states gravitated toward the U.S. during the war because only the U.S. was defending their interests against Iranian aggression. Why would they keep their end of the bargain if Trump refuses to honor his? The president’s desperation for a deal threatens the gains he made during the war.