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“How Trump took the US to war with Iran”. This New York Times article is one of the most outstanding pieces of political reporting I’ve read in a long time.
It takes you inside the room where it happened - the actual decision-making environment. Who was there, who wasn’t, what was said, what was dismissed and, critically, how President Trump made the decision to move.
Too often, war is explained in hindsight as inevitability. This shows something far more uncomfortable: how the decision was shaped in real time - through personalities, persuasion, framing, confidence, silence.
What stands out to me are the dynamics around President Trump. Some chose to remain quiet. Some chose to voice risks and scepticism but, ultimately, these were overridden.
This piece provides an insiders view of who has real influence and persuasion over the President and who does not. And how people in his inner circle behave and position themselves in his presence.
It’s also a reminder that the most consequential decisions are rarely made in the full light of scrutiny. They happen in small rooms, under pressure, with humans at the centre - all driven by various motives, values and agendas.
For anyone trying to understand how we arrived at the current situation in the Middle East, this piece is essential reading.
With thanks to Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman for their reporting. Your work here is award-worthy.
