Bill Kristol: Trump's Revenge Tour Is Backfiring

In this episode of The Bulwark Podcast, host Tim Miller and editor-at-large Bill Kristol dissect the escalating crisis in U.S.-Iran relations under President Trump, arguing that his so-called 'Revenge Tour' is backfiring politically and strategically. The episode opens with a tense update on missile exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump’s controversial social media post about Iran, and his deployment of 15,000 troops under the guise of 'Project Freedom'—a move Kristol calls a phony military escalation. They critique Trump’s erratic foreign policy, including the unilateral withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany, which they see as a childish, symbolic punishment that undermines NATO and U.S. strategic presence. The hosts also condemn the DOJ’s indictment of Jim Comey over 'seashell art'—a farcical prosecution that exemplifies the administration’s revenge-driven justice system. Poll numbers are dire: Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to 37%, with disapproval exceeding 50% on inflation, cost of living, and the Iran conflict. Kristol argues this reflects a broader erosion of public trust, as Trump’s policies—especially on tariffs, gas prices, and defense spending—have hurt ordinary Americans without offering coherent solutions. The episode closes with a scathing critique of Trump’s proposed 'triumphal arch' and garden of heroes, which Kristol describes as Stalinist, grotesque, and a symbol of narcissistic authoritarianism. The hosts conclude that Trump’s self-destructive policies are uniting opposition across the Democratic Party and creating a historic opportunity for a Democratic wave in 2026.