Trump draws backlash for comment on Iran war: 'Maybe we shouldn't even be there'

[highplainsdem]

Source: Guardian

Donald Trump drew a backlash on Sunday for suggesting US efforts to protect the Strait of Hormuz were unnecessary – and that “maybe we shouldn’t even be there at all” because his country has plenty of oil of its own.

The president made the contradictory comment to reporters on Air Force One after pleading with European and Nato allies to enter the war in Iran to help the US secure the strait amid the largest oil supply disruption in history.

“Really, I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory – because it is their territory,” he said.

“They should come and they should help us protect it. You could make the case that maybe we shouldn’t even be there at all, because we don’t need it. We have a lot of oil. We’re the number one producer anywhere in the world times two.”

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/16/trump-backlash-iran-war

[travelingthrulife]

1. So it is about stealing their resources. He did say it would be just like Venezuela.

[Resistance1]

2. Nailed it!

The dementia is kicking in and he speaks the truth. It was never about ridding the world of a bad guy. It was always about oil. Now he's painted himself in a corner and wants someone to bail him out. Wasn't this the same guy that said he knew more about war than the generals?

[wnylib]

16. He knows more about anything than anyone.

He's a stable genius. He has brilliant, creative solutions to any problem.

For covid, bleach down the gut and UV light up the other end.

For hurricanes, just nuke 'em.

For Iran, don't do wimpy things like negotiating inspections to prevent them from developing nukes. Show the world and Obama how to be tough by single handedly bombing them. Cakewalk to own them and their oil after a few attacks. The world will be so impressed with such courage and power that they will rush to help if called on. Only a stable genius could outdo the .military in such great strategic planning.

[Justice matters.]

17. Such a stable genius that he bankrupted how many House-Never-Loses casinos?

One is already a big tell, but six?

[wnylib]

19. Only a genius could do that and then convince

voters that he's a brilliant businessman who is "one of them."

Well.....more of a skilled con man than genius.

[pat_k]

21. "...they will rush to help if called on"...

...stumbling over each other to kiss his feet, tears in their eyes.

I fear that his lashing out will go beyond the usual tantrums as the world stubbornly refuses to comply with his delusional fantasies. Fantasies born of his malignant narcissism and cruel and violent psychopathy. As nightmarish as the world has been with the felon in power, I fear for the extremes that are yet to come as the "usual" mechanisms he uses to protect his eggshell ego and delusions of brilliance and power fail him.

[wnylib]

22. Agree. We can only hope that someone in his

political or military sphere has the wisdom and courage that General Milley showed on J6 to prevent an enormous world disaster.

I know that Bob Wodward is not popular on DU, but in his book, Peril, he describes in detail how Milley worked behind the scenes on J6 to calm the concerns of China and to drill the military staff on checking with him before complying with any orders to launch missiles or nukes.

[SSJVegeta]

3. Cool. Dont be there. TACO

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

28. He could just declare victory and stop bombing ...

He could end the war any time he wants - at least for America - by just stopping.

The Israelis could continue to bomb on their own - but that would not be us and if the old man really didn't want to be involved any more, he could stop supplying Israeli arms.

The Iranians might continue to hit US installations in the area - but they would be smarter to not incite renewed attacks.

Basically, the old man could stop the war any time with a word or simple inaction. That IS his power.

But I'm betting he won't until he sees it is in his best personal interest to do so. Or he gets bored and attracted by another shiny ... Oh!

[BeyondGeography]

4. Whose territory is "their" territory...What the hell is he even talking about?

“Really, I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory – because it is their territory,” he said.

[ChicagoTeamster]

10. He means the Europeans need the resources from the region more than we do so they should clean up his mess to get them

At least that's how he thinks.

[BeyondGeography]

14. Substitute "interests" for "territory" and you'd have something coherent

And they say Biden was a terrible communicator.

[GusBob]

5. The families of the dead may very well agree with him

But it’s too late for them
Pretty sure they ain’t happy to hear him say we shouldn’t even be there

[Mysterian]

7. How many thousands of innocent people will die?

Because idiots in the USA voted for a depraved con-man to be their president?

[maxsolomon]

12. More?

Suckers always double down.

[Delarage]

27. That was my first thought

Totally corrupt evil running our country 😡

[republianmushroom]

6. Bring hem home and admit you were wrong in starting this war.

Jesus, trump is stupid.

[Justice matters.]

18. orange $atan$ never apologize for anything.

stupid magats knew that when they voted for their beloved antikkkrist.

[Bayard]

8. He demands that other countries jump into his fiasco

His diplomacy skills always suck. He's never learned to ASK for anything his entire life, not that it would do him any good this time.

It will be interesting to see if rethuglican candidates will start backing away from him. November will be a blow out for Dems.

[Vinca]

9. You have to wonder how this hits the families of the dead and injured service members. What a fucking moron.

You don't put Americans in peril because of how your bone spur feels on any particular day, then change your mind after the Advil kicks in.

[bif]

11. No shit, Sherlock!

[MLWR]

13. "Maybe we shouldn't even be there at all."

We sure shouldn't be there. If we had a POTUS who wasn't a "fucking moron," we wouldn't "be there at all."

[City Lights]

15. They need to add a "What the Fuck" section to their paper

for their reporting on Rapist.

[BaronChocula]

20. "...because it is their territory..."

So he thinks the Persian Gulf is European territory? He's getting worse by the second.

[EX500rider]

23. He's playing/begging to the wrong crowd

As of early 2026, European Union countries import a relatively small, reduced amount of crude oil directly from the Middle East, with estimates placing the figure at roughly 6% to 7% of total EU crude imports.

Asia where he ought to be begging as it does hurt them A LOT

Key Destinations and Percentages (via Strait of Hormuz):
Asia (Total): ~82%
China: ~37.7% (Also, ~90% of Iran's specific exports)

India relies on the Middle East for about 60% of its oil imports.
More than 90% of Japan's crude oil imports come from the Middle East.

[Mysterian]

24. Great comfort for families of the dead service members

"You died for nothing."

[mahina]

29. again

this is all so fucking disgraceful!!!!

[Ol Janx Spirit]

25. I've got to hand it to him:

Every time I think we have to be nearing the bottom of where he can possibly go both morally and intellectually he somehow manages to find new depths in which to sink.

Starting a war of choice in which civilian children and U.S. Service members have already died, failing to even try to bring in allies before the fact and now berating them for not doing your bidding, and then dismissing the whole thing as something we really don't need to be doing in the first place is some serious dredging of the Mariana Trench of his depravity.

[IronLionZion]

26. He could just declare victory and leave any time he wants