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Victor Davis Hanson Says Major Problem Complicates US Options On Iran

Victor Davis Hanson Says A Major Problem Complicates US Options On Iran (Screenshot/Fox News)

Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Victor Davis Hanson said Thursday that the Trump administration faces major constraints in its conflict with Iran —and not on the battlefield.

The United States is now in conflict with Iran after the Trump administration launched “Operation Epic Fury” on Feb. 28, carrying out targeted strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites following the collapse of diplomatic talks. Hanson said on “Special Report” that the United States holds overwhelming military power in its confrontation with Iran.

“If you have overwhelming military power, you can force those concessions. The problem the United States has right now is not military. They can do what they need. It’s Donald Trump’s political problems,” Hanson told host Bret Baier.

Hanson said the Trump administration’s primary constraint comes from domestic political pressures.

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“And that is, of course, public opinion on the war in general and his popularity and the people in Congress that need to be reelected in the Republican Party and the midterms, of course, and the economy as well,” Hanson added. “Those are the pressures that really matter. But militarily, they can do almost anything they want. And they can achieve both of those objectives if they want to. It’s just a matter of how much of a political price they’re willing to risk.”

Just days after the attack, polling shows broad skepticism toward President Trump’s war with Iran, with only about 27% of Americans supporting the strikes while a majority disapprove. Even within the GOP, 42% of Republicans said they would be less likely to back the conflict if U.S. troops are harmed.

A more recent YouGov / Economist poll found that just 28% of Americans support the war with Iran while 59% oppose it. Although a majority of Republicans still back the conflict, support is sharply divided within the party, with only about one-third of non-MAGA Republicans in favor.

Republicans face mounting risks ahead of the midterms, with polling showing the party could lose control of Congress if current trends hold.

(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/Fox News)