US President Donald Trump during his “perseverance speech” on April 1st in the White House.Image: keystone
analysis
The reactions at home and abroad to the US President’s TV address are predominantly negative. Right?
April 2, 2026, 8:52 p.mApril 2, 2026, 8:52 p.m
His address to the nation lasted just 19 minutes. Expectations of an immediate pause in fighting were not met. There was also no word on the explosive topic of leaving NATO. Instead, a good month after the start of the war, Donald Trump tried to spread confidence.
The conflict with Iran is “close to being concluded,” said the US President in his televised speech on Maundy Thursday night. Everything will be over in two to three weeks. In the same breath, Trump announced a new phase of massive attacks. Iran will be hit “extremely hard” and “bombed back into the Stone Age”.
This simultaneity of escalation and final rhetoric ran through his entire argument – there is still no clear plan for an end to the war. What was irritating for many was the chronological comparison with the USA’s previous wars in World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.
What Trump wanted to express was probably the following: Even if the Iran war lasts longer than the originally announced “few weeks”, “Peace President” Trump will still lag far behind his warmongering predecessors – which in turn will hardly appease his isolationist MAGA base.
Trump’s war goals under review
– Many facilities and missiles destroyed, consistent air strikes on identified launch pads.
– But: Iran continues to fire missiles and use drones, which results in significant US losses (e.g. destruction of a valuable Awacs early warning aircraft).
Conclusion: This goal has not yet been achieved. How much is still missing to completely eliminate Iran’s attack potential remains unclear.2. Destruction of the Iranian Navy
– Large parts of the navy destroyed.
– Individual spectacular attacks such as the sinking of a destroyer.
– But: Many small boats that threaten the Strait of Hormuz remain protected from attacks.
Conclusion: Nevertheless, the only US goal that has essentially been achieved.3. Preventing an Iranian nuclear weapons program
– Iran’s nuclear facilities were severely damaged by bombing.
– But: The highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium remains untraceable. Trump indicates that he will forego the planned commando operation to secure the material.
Conclusion: The core problem remains unsolved; the scenario of Iranian nuclear weapons cannot be completely ruled out.4. Elimination of Iranian proxy militias
– Militias allied with Iran remain active; Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen have launched their own offensive operations.
– Houthis threaten to close the Bab al-Mandab strait.
Conclusion: Bombings and the killing of leaders have weakened the Iranian proxies and pushed them back in some cases, but there is hardly any strategic progress visible.
5. Regime change in Iran
– The Iranian leadership including Supreme Leader Khamenei were eliminated.
– But: A new, more radical regime is in power, which is nipping a new popular revolt in the bud. Trump’s message to the Iranian people that “help is on the way” turns out to be an empty promise.
Conclusion: The main political goal has clearly been missed and its own credibility has been severely damaged.
Likewise, the renewed attempt to provide clarity regarding American war aims remained – to put it charitably – ambivalent and confusing at best. There was no longer any talk of Trump’s 15-point demands on Iran.
Regime change is not a war goal, but it is one because of the decimation of the Iranian leadership, with Foreign Minister Marco Rubio saying this in his statement “List to take notes” continues to be explicitly omitted. The fact check exposes Trump’s previously claimed war successes as at least blatantly euphemistic.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Here are the clear objectives of the operation. You should write them down:
1. The destruction of Iran’s air force
2. The destruction of their navy
3. The severe diminishing of their missile launching capability
4. The destruction of their factories
pic.twitter.com/SrqCtPLlZB— Department of State (@StateDept) March 30, 2026
Domestic political pressure is growing
So all that remains of Trump’s appearance, which was intended to give his own people more clarity, is only one certain conclusion: Trump’s speech was a reaction to increasing resistance in his own country. Rising gasoline prices, falling stock markets and a majority of the population against the war are putting increasing pressure on the president. However, his communication remains erratic and dependent on the moods of the day.
His speech to the nation was anything but the liberation he had hoped for. Trump described the wantonly conflict as an investment in the security of future generations. He did not provide concrete answers to economic concerns. The problem with oil transport through the Straits of Hormuz will somehow be solved and is no longer the concern of the USA anyway.
At least the business world cannot be fobbed off with such appeasements. After Trump’s speech, the price of oil shot up again by 8 percent. In diametrically opposite terms, his poll numbers are in free fall. (aargauerzeitung.ch)