Narrative wars rage as missiles fly. Varied influencers, company and nationwide media retailers are firing up their fog of conflict machines in a vicious battle for management.
What’s the Trump Regime Saying?
Let’s begin on the high and take a look at what the Struggle Emperor declared as he opened the Gates of Janus.
Trump opened the narrative wars with a standard stay tv announcement within the very early hours of Saturday the twenty eighth:
Some highlights:
A short while in the past, the USA navy started main fight operations in Iran.
Our goal is to defend the American individuals by eliminating eminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very laborious, horrible individuals.
Its menacing actions instantly endanger the USA, our troops, our bases abroad, and our allies all through the world.
For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted dying to America and waged an never-ending marketing campaign of bloodshed and mass homicide, concentrating on the USA, our troops, and the harmless individuals in lots of, many nations.
…
From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, skilled, and funded terrorist militias which have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran’s proxy Hamas that launched the monstrous October seventh assaults on Israel, slaughtering greater than 1,000 harmless individuals, together with 46 People, whereas taking 12 of our residents hostage. It was brutal, one thing just like the world has by no means seen earlier than.Iran is the world’s primary state sponsor of terror and only recently killed tens of hundreds of its personal residents on the road as they protested. It has at all times been the coverage of the USA specifically my administration that this terrorist regime can by no means have a nuclear weapon.
I’ll say it once more. They’ll by no means have a nuclear weapon. That’s the reason in operation midnight hammer final June we obliterated the regime’s nuclear program at Ford Natans and Isvahan.
After that assault we warned them by no means to renew their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons and we sought repeatedly to make a deal.
We tried. They wished to do it. They didn’t wish to do it once more. They wished to do it. They didn’t wish to do it. They didn’t know what was taking place. They only wished to observe evil.
However Iran refused, simply because it has for many years and a long time. They’ve rejected each alternative to resign their nuclear ambitions, and we are able to’t take it anymore.
As a substitute, they tried to rebuild their nuclear program and to proceed growing lengthy vary missiles that may now threaten our excellent associates and allies in Europe, our troops stationed abroad and will quickly attain the American homeland. Simply think about how emboldened this regime can be in the event that they ever had and really have been armed with nuclear weapons as a method to ship their message.
For these causes, the USA navy is enterprise an enormous and ongoing operation to stop this very depraved, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core nationwide safety pursuits. We’re going to destroy their missiles and lift their missile trade to the bottom. It will likely be completely once more obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to be sure that the area’s terrorist proxies can not destabilize the area or the world and assault our forces and not use their IEDs or roadside bombs as they’re generally referred to as to so gravely wound and kill hundreds and hundreds of individuals together with many People. And we’ll be sure that Iran doesn’t get hold of a nuclear weapon.
…
This regime will quickly be taught that nobody ought to problem the energy and would possibly of the USA armed forces. I constructed and rebuilt our navy in my first administration, and there’s no navy on earth even near its energy, energy, or sophistication.My administration has taken each doable step to reduce the chance to US personnel within the area. Even so, and I don’t make this assertion flippantly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of brave American heroes could also be misplaced and we might have casualties. That usually occurs in conflict.
…
To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and all the police, I say tonight that it’s essential to lay down your weapons and have full immunity, or within the different, face sure dying. So, lay down your arms, you may be handled pretty with complete immunity, or you’ll face sure dying. Lastly, to the good proud individuals of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand.
…
No president was keen to do what I’m keen to do tonight. Now you’ve gotten a president who’s providing you with what you need. So let’s see the way you reply. America is backing you with overwhelming energy and devastating power. Now could be the time to grab management of your future and to unleash the affluent and superb future that’s shut inside your attain.
POTUS Trump has additionally been saturation bombing Reality social together with his most bombastic claims:
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
Khamenei, one of the vital evil individuals in Historical past, is useless. This isn’t solely Justice for the individuals of Iran, however for all Nice People, and people individuals from many International locations all through the World, which have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS. He was unable to keep away from our Intelligence and Extremely Subtle Monitoring Techniques and, working carefully with Israel, there was not a factor he, or the opposite leaders which have been killed together with him, may do. That is the only best likelihood for the Iranian individuals to take again their Nation. We’re listening to that lots of their IRGC, Navy, and different Safety and Police Forces, not wish to battle, and are on the lookout for Immunity from us. As I mentioned final evening, “Now they’ll have Immunity, later they solely get Loss of life!” Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work collectively as a unit to deliver again the Nation to the Greatness it deserves. That course of ought to quickly be beginning in that, not solely the dying of Khamenei however the Nation has been, in solely sooner or later, very a lot destroyed and, even, obliterated. The heavy and pinpoint bombing, nonetheless, will proceed, uninterrupted all through the week or, so long as crucial to attain our goal of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!
Thanks to your consideration to this matter.
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
Yesterday, Trump adopted up with some pre-recorded feedback that appear to have a little bit of the AI about them:
Notable quotes:
Over the previous 36 hours, the USA and its companions have launched Operation Epic Fury, one of many largest, most advanced, most overwhelming navy offensives the world has ever seen.
No person’s seen something prefer it. We’ve hit tons of of targets in Iran, together with Revolutionary Guard services, Iranian air protection methods.
Simply now was introduced that we knocked out 9 ships plus their naval constructing. All in a matter of actually minutes.
Iran’s previously Supreme Chief Ayatollah Hame is useless. This wretched and vile man had the blood of tons of and even hundreds of People on his arms and was chargeable for the slaughter of numerous hundreds of harmless individuals all throughout many nations.
Final evening throughout Iran, the voices of the Iranian individuals might be heard cheering and celebrating within the streets when his dying was introduced.
All the navy command is gone as nicely and lots of of them wish to give up into saving their lives. They need immunity. They’re calling by the hundreds. Fight operations proceed right now in full power and they’ll proceed till all of our aims are achieved. We’ve very sturdy aims.
…
Earlier at this time, Centcom shared the information that three US navy service members have been killed in motion. As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who’ve made the last word sacrifice for our nation. Whilst we proceed the righteous mission for which they gave their lives, we pray for the complete restoration of the wounded and ship our immense love and everlasting gratitude to the households of the fallen. And sadly, there’ll probably be extra earlier than it ends. That’s the way in which it’s. Seemingly be extra. However we’ll do every little thing doable the place that gained’t be the case.
Dan Pfeiffer of the liberal Pod Save America podcast responded to the latter with “There’s something disturbingly surreal that after launching a regime change conflict within the Center East, the president solely speaks to the nation by rapidly edited video statements launched on state-run media platforms.”
Some Gaps within the Trump Communications Offensive
He definitely wasn’t within the temper to reply questions from the press upon returning to The White Home yesterday:
President Trump didn’t take our questions on Iran as he returned to the White Home however he did cease to take a look at the brand new statues within the Rose Backyard.
All he mentioned to us was “unbelievable statues come check out them.”
Video @JCliff_Scoops pic.twitter.com/dcQ0myDlYG
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) March 2, 2026
Possibly that was as a result of he’s been caught in a lie:
New: Pentagon briefers acknowledged to congressional workers in a briefing Sunday that Iran was not planning to strike US forces or bases within the Center East until Israel attacked Iran first, a number of sources to @NatashaBertrand, @jmhansler & me.
Why this issues: It undercuts…
— Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) March 2, 2026
And whereas nobody from Staff Trump made the standard rounds of the community Sunday reveals (a standard area for preventing narrative wars), Trump was answering his telephone when reporters referred to as:
No senior administration officers appeared on the Sunday reveals to elucidate Iran conflict — however Trump appears to reply each name from a reporter together with his quantity. https://t.co/QuRStMmdgz
— Journey Gabriel (@tripgabriel) March 2, 2026
And most reassuringly, Trump is preserving the hotline to Laura Loomer open always:
The President is taking international coverage calls from somebody who received banned from Uber, DoorDash, and half the web. pic.twitter.com/ggITB5WeU2
— Omar El-Ayat (@oelayat) March 1, 2026
Apparently, a lot of the opposition to the conflict is coming from Trump’s proper.
MAGA Ain’t With This
Simply ask former US Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene:
This bitch is celebrating the dying of American navy members and thanking their households for his or her blood sacrifice.
Loomer misplaced two Congressional races bc no one revered her or valued her sufficient to elect her.
However that is who Trump takes late evening calls from and laps up… pic.twitter.com/KCsp243roe
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) March 1, 2026
Or Matt Walsh:
Up to now we’ve heard that though we killed the entire Iranian regime, this was not a regime change conflict. And though we obliterated their nuclear program, we had to do that due to their nuclear program. And though Iran was not planning any assaults on the US, additionally they would possibly…
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 2, 2026
Or Nick Fuentes:
Trump betrayed MAGA and America First. He has misplaced his mandate to control.
I can’t and won’t vote for the GOP until they put America and People First.
In case you maintain voting after they dragged us right into a regional conflict with Iran, then you’ll vote for completely something.
— Nicholas J. Fuentes (@NickJFuentes) March 1, 2026
And this rejection of Trump’s conflict is coming when People are usually not even privvy to all of the details.
Israeli Press Reviews Trump In search of Ceasefire
Any American involved that censorship is clouding home media is suggested to verify what’s being mentioned within the Israeli media. This time it’s YNet reporting some uncomfortable claims:
Trump seeks swift finish to Iran operation
Opinion: The killing of Iran’s supreme chief is a serious intelligence and navy feat, however Tehran’s regime has not collapsed; US official, by way of a mediator, proposed a right away ceasefire; Iran rejected it outright, as Trump appears for a fast exitOn the eve of the strike on Iran, U.S. officers envisioned a four- to five-day operation that may return a weakened Tehran to the negotiating desk. In response to one supply, an American official conveyed an much more quick proposal. By means of a mediator, apparently Italy, he recommended reaching a ceasefire settlement at this time or tomorrow. Iran rejected the concept outright.
What Do the Polls Say?
Reuters has one which doesn’t look so good for Trump:
@alon_mizrahi pic.twitter.com/XMaf6uevLK
— Nat Wilson Turner (@natwilsonturner) March 2, 2026
How About that Liberal Media?
Let’s verify in on the gang at CNN (whose father or mother firm WBD was simply acquired by the Ellison Household’s Paramount empire), I’m positive they’re residing as much as everybody’s expectations:
Man, it is going to be a disgrace when Bari takes over this information outlet and turns it into non cease propaganda https://t.co/sq7kseV63e
— Will 🦥 Menaker (@willmenaker) March 1, 2026
How about MS Now, the hardcore opposition, little doubt they’re doing us proud:
Rachel Maddow performed a number one function in losing years of liberal time and power on a conspiracy idea that Trump colluded with, and was financially compromised by, Russia. This entailed ignoring not solely the precise proof about Russiagate, however about Trump’s collusion with, and… pic.twitter.com/OrcZpQeDmc
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) March 2, 2026
In equity, American audiences can’t deal with the reality, and even fascinating rumors:
American media doesn’t look like masking the strike on CIA headquarters. https://t.co/o3AXFIbbWW
— Laura Miers (@LauraMiers) March 1, 2026
Nor can the Brits
That is how media lies to you in actual time. pic.twitter.com/JdHr5qPF04
— Alan MacLeod (@AlanRMacLeod) March 2, 2026
What’s the New York Occasions saying?
The editorial board has issues:
began this conflict with out explaining to the American individuals and the world why he was doing so. Nor has he concerned Congress, to which the Structure grants the only real energy to declare conflict. He as a substitute posted a video at 2:30 a.m. Jap on Saturday, shortly after bombing started, during which he mentioned that Iran introduced “imminent threats” and referred to as for the overthrow of its authorities. His rationale is doubtful, and making his case by video in the midst of the evening is unacceptable.
Amongst his justifications is the elimination of Iran’s nuclear program, which is a worthy objective. However Mr. Trump declared that program “obliterated” by the strike in June, a declare belied by each U.S. intelligence and this new assault. The contradiction underscores how little regard he has for his obligation to inform the reality when committing American armed forces to battle. It additionally reveals how little religion Americans ought to place in his assurances in regards to the objectives and outcomes of his rising listing of navy adventures.
Mr. Trump’s strategy to Iran is reckless. His objectives are ill-defined. He has did not line up the worldwide and home assist that may be crucial to maximise the possibilities of a profitable final result. He has disregarded each home and worldwide legislation for warfare.
The Iranian regime, to be clear, deserves no sympathy. No person ought to mourn the dying of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme chief, who was reportedly killed within the assault.
However NYT op-ed columnist Bret Stephens has none:
…it’s a mistake to say that Trump received America into conflict on Saturday. What he did was reply to a conflict that Iran has been waging in opposition to the USA since 1979.
It waged conflict when it seized our embassy in 1979, murdered (by way of proxy) tons of of our service members in Beirut in 1983 and provided the I.E.D.s, or roadside bombs, that killed or maimed over 1,000 of our troops in the course of the conflict in Iraq. It waged conflict when it sought to assassinate former senior U.S. officers, together with John Bolton, Mike Pompeo and, in keeping with a 2024 report in Politico, Trump himself. One motive Iran behaved because it did is as a result of it drew the lesson that it could pay no nice value. No extra.
Second, Tehran had a possibility to alter course final June, after its 12-day pummeling by Israel and an in a single day strike by the USA. As a substitute, it got down to start reconstituting its nuclear capabilities whereas quickly rebuilding the missile power that’s now terrorizing civilians in Tel Aviv, Dubai, Manama and Riyadh, and concentrating on U.S. navy belongings within the area.
Would the USA, the Arab world or Israel have been safer if we had waited a yr or two for Iran to construct a number of thousand extra missiles? Or after Russia had provided the regime with hundreds of superior shoulder-fired air protection missiles, as The Monetary Occasions reported final week that it had agreed to do?
Third, Iran doesn’t exist in a geopolitical vacuum: With Moscow and Beijing, it’s a core member of the axis of autocracies that threaten the democratic world broadly.
In equity, they’re giving little Nicholas Kristof room to decry “The Folly of Attacking Iran” however even their opposition is “nuanced” and anti-Iran:
Like Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, Iran has a repressive and unpopular authorities that may be a malign affect on the area. Iran simply massacred hundreds of protesters — a minimum of 6,800 civilians and maybe many extra, in keeping with the Human Rights Activists Information Company. The regime is a pillar of misogyny, helps dangerous actors all through the Center East and holds again hundreds of thousands of well-educated individuals.
And as with Iraq in 2003, a conflict just isn’t essentially the very best software to cope with a brutal and hostile authorities. There are extra issues in worldwide relations than options, and previously the phantasm of a simple navy reply has repeatedly brought on tragedy for ourselves in addition to for others.
I reached out on the eve of the conflict to a heroic Iranian human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, whose braveness and defiance of the regime have periodically landed her in jail. She instructed me that the very best time for navy strikes would have been January, after they might need stopped the slaughter within the streets.
However Thomas Friedman brings NYT readers again from the brink of opposing the conflict:
First, I hope this effort to topple the clerical regime in Tehran succeeds. It’s a regime that murders its individuals, destabilizes its neighbors and has destroyed an amazing civilization. There isn’t a single occasion that may do extra to place the entire Center East on a extra first rate, inclusive trajectory than the substitute of Tehran’s Islamic regime with a management centered completely on enabling the individuals of Iran to appreciate their full potential with an actual voice in their very own future.
The NYT additionally provides former Obama Nationwide Safety Advisor Ben Rhodes room to ask some key questions:
Foundational questions are at stake for People. Can we wish to proceed ceaselessly wars financed with borrowed cash and fought by service members whose sacrifices stand in stark distinction to the cowardice of our billionaire class? Can we wish to usually bomb different nations whereas endangering the lives of hundreds of thousands of human beings by dismantling the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement? Can we wish to stay in a everlasting state of conflict that migrates from one place to a different whereas rampant inequality and revolutionary applied sciences remake our communities with little resistance?
Presumably NYT readers like Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham are answering “sure” to a lot of the questions Rhodes poses.
How’s About that Nominal Opposition Celebration?
The Guardian kind of sums up the dilemma the Democrats discover themselves in:
Democrats confronted their very own divisions and a reckoning over how you can current a united entrance.
Most have been fast to sentence the US president for sidelining Congress to launch an unlawful and unconstitutional conflict and demanded a swift vote on a conflict powers decision that may restrain his navy onslaught.
However some within the occasion additionally felt obliged to acknowledge the authoritarian Khamenei’s dying as a optimistic growth and show their assist for US troops. A small band of centrist Democrats have even threatened to scupper a conflict powers decision if it involves the ground.
“President Trump has been keen to do what’s proper and crucial to provide actual peace within the area,” tweeted John Fetterman, a Democratic senator for Pennsylvania and staunch supporter of Israel, declaring himself a “laborious no” on a conflict powers vote and posting a picture of the ayatollah with the provocative assertion: “Let’s see who grieves for that rubbish.”
…the sharpest voices accused the president of using roughshod over the structure. Senator Bernie Sanders denounced the assault as “an unlawful, premeditated and unconstitutional conflict”, whereas Senator Chris Van Hollen warned it amounted to a “regime-change conflict” that would depart the US much less safe. Senator Tim Kaine, lengthy a thorn within the facet of presidents of each events on conflict powers, referred to as the strikes “a colossal mistake” and demanded a swift vote requiring Trump to hunt authorisation.
Others, nonetheless, have been extra certified. Tom Suozzi, a New York Democrat who co-chairs the Downside Solvers caucus, wrote on X: “I agree with the President’s aims that Iran can by no means be allowed to acquire nuclear capabilities.” Henry Cuellar of Texas mentioned the menace posed by Iran was “actual and longstanding”.
And never all Democrats are lining up behind a conflict powers rebuke. Within the Home of Representatives, Josh Gottheimer applauded the administration’s “decisive motion” to defend American pursuits and allies. Greg Landsman argued that the US “is destroying Iran’s missiles and bombs to cease them from taking extra lives”, and mentioned he would oppose a decision that he fears would quantity to abandoning Israel.
Congressman Jared Moskowitz rehearsed Tehran’s lengthy report of sponsoring violence throughout the area and insisted the main target should now be on shaping what comes subsequent somewhat than relitigating what has already occurred.
As tragi-comic because the Democrats could be, there’s much more dire pathos on the market.
Influencers Posting Courageous From Dubai
Regardless of Iran’s warnings they’d be hitting American bases within the area, many within the UAE have been caught off guard.
Semafor reviews:
Riyadh has emerged as a key exit route for the super-rich and senior executives stranded within the Gulf on the lookout for a protected passage out of the area.
Cities together with Abu Dhabi and Dubai have develop into playgrounds for the rich over the previous few years, attracted by the year-round sunshine, tax-free life-style, and notion of security. That was shattered over the weekend as Iranian missiles and drones rained down on the 2 cities, together with Qatar and Bahrain, inflicting people who may to aim to flee.
The Saudi capital’s airport is likely one of the few nonetheless working within the area, forcing executives and their households stranded in different components of the Gulf to take the lengthy drive with a purpose to catch non-public jets or industrial planes.
Personal safety corporations have been reserving fleets of SUVs to ferry individuals on the 10-hour drive to Riyadh from Dubai after which constitution non-public planes to take them out of the area, in keeping with individuals accustomed to the matter. They’ve been evacuating a mixture of individuals, together with senior executives at international finance corporations and high-net value people within the area for enterprise or holidays, the individuals mentioned. The frenzy in demand is sending costs for personal jets and SUVs hovering, these individuals mentioned.
However that hasn’t stopped the UAE from doing what they’ll, agit-prop clever:
In the meantime, Dubai appears to be deploying its handiest asset within the info conflict: Instagram influencers.
The identical shiny movies are all of the sudden in every single place. Totally different languages, however virtually similar reels, boasting about how they really feel protected underneath Sheikh Mohammed’s safety. pic.twitter.com/QzkE6JYQCq
— Brian McDonald (@BrianMcDonaldIE) March 2, 2026
Australian in Dubai “this isn’t meant to be taking place right here”.
The place is it meant to be taking place? Gaza?pic.twitter.com/5yS63GoJAE
— Syrian Lady (@Partisangirl) March 1, 2026
Among the most infamous residents of Dubai have joined in as nicely:
Ian Miles Cheong:
It’s 3am in a Dubai membership proper now and the place is alive. You may’t beat this metropolis. pic.twitter.com/TmBnuvhgC5
— Ian Miles Cheong (@ianmiles) March 1, 2026
Andrew Tate appearing powerful for his digital camera:
Me in Dubai whereas the bombs fall 🕺🏽 pic.twitter.com/fKYDbMcEaw
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) March 1, 2026
Now that we’ve heard from the UAE, let’s let Iran have the final phrase.
What the Empire Is Up In opposition to
Professor Marandi is acquainted to many followers of the alt information on YouTube, his response to the pretender follows:
The piece of rubbish did not even trouble to tweet in regards to the 165 little ladies murdered at their elementary faculty in Minab metropolis by the Trump regime. pic.twitter.com/uhXR8QLgDL
— Seyed Mohammad Marandi (@s_m_marandi) March 2, 2026
Right here’s how they’re rallying the lots to withstand:
I am overstruck with the majesty and energy of this ritual. It actually is likely one of the most stunning issues I’ve ever seen.
Was there ever a battle cry extra good than this? https://t.co/r5UCFItjlk
— Alon Mizrahi (@alon_mizrahi) March 1, 2026
Keep protected on the market.
