Senator: Trump Starts Wars, Claims Credit for Peace

Senator Slams Trump’s Foreign Policy Approach

Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen on Sunday criticized President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, comparing him to an “arsonist who lights the fire then takes credit for putting it out.” Van Hollen’s remarks came as markets showed gains and oil prices fell following Iran’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz was open for commercial vessels.

“Arsonist” Analogy for Conflict Escalation

Speaking on a news program, Senator Van Hollen expressed relief that the Strait of Hormuz is open. However, he argued that this development does not erase the negative consequences of recent conflicts. He stated that Trump often breaks things, then tries to put them back together and expects praise.

Van Hollen pointed out that the Strait of Hormuz was open before the current conflict began. He highlighted the significant costs incurred since the war started.

These costs include the loss of 13 American service members and the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians in the region. The conflict has also cost American taxpayers over $10 billion.

Economic Aftermath and Unclear Mission

The senator noted that oil and gas prices are rising. The aftershocks of these price increases are being felt across the economy.

Van Hollen believes the situation is now much worse than it would have been if the war had not begun. He questioned the mission’s objectives, especially when the President declares victory multiple times.

“What is the actual mission now? And at this point, what does success look like?” Van Hollen asked.

He argued that there was never a clear definition of success that would justify the cost in lives and resources for the American people and those in the region. He believes Trump and his team never had an “end game.”

Calls for Reining in Presidential War Powers

Van Hollen reiterated calls for Republican colleagues to join Democrats in reigning in presidential actions. He stated they will continue to push for War Powers Resolutions.

These resolutions aim to limit the president’s ability to engage in military action without congressional approval. He believes the American people overwhelmingly oppose the current war.

When asked about exiting the conflict, Van Hollen described it as a “war of choice.” He believes the U.S. should withdraw immediately. “This was a war that was a huge mistake to begin with, and so we should just get out now,” he stated. He questioned why American lives and the lives of innocent civilians are still being put at risk.

Fragile Ceasefire and Linked Conflicts

The discussion then turned to a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which the U.S. helped broker. This agreement allows Israeli forces to remain in southern Lebanon. Van Hollen described the agreement as “very wobbly.” He noted that Hezbollah was not directly involved in the negotiations.

He explained that the original ceasefire between the United States and Iran was brokered by the Pakistani government. It was understood that a ceasefire in Lebanon was part of that deal.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly disagreed. This led to continued bombing and incursions into southern Lebanon.

Van Hollen emphasized the fragile nature of the current 10-day ceasefire. He stated that its stability depends on the Trump administration’s actions.

He believes that even with fixes, the U.S. will be worse off than before the conflict started. He urged the administration to stop making the situation worse.

Nuclear Deal and Repeating Mistakes

The conversation also touched upon the Trump administration’s desire for an agreement on Iran’s enriched nuclear material. Van Hollen sees this as another example of Trump creating a problem and then claiming credit for solving it. He recalled the Obama administration’s deal with Iran, which prevented the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

He noted that in the early days of Trump’s first term, Iran was certified as being in compliance with that agreement. However, Trump and Netanyahu decided to withdraw from the deal.

Van Hollen argued that this action led Iran to believe it was no longer bound by its terms. He concluded that this is just another instance of Trump breaking agreements and creating new crises.

“This has really been a mistake from start to finish,” Van Hollen said, summarizing his view of the administration’s foreign policy actions. He thanked the interviewer for the discussion.

Source: Trump is like the 'arsonist who lights the fire then takes credit for putting it out': Dem Sen. (YouTube)