President Trump, shown Thursday at the White House, has spoken about the Iran war in a coarse and triumphant tone that is unprecedented for U.S. wartime presidents, two experts said. They have consistently described the war in terms of how hard the U.S. is hitting Iran, rather than why it must do so. Kimble said there are several ways to view Trump’s war rhetoric. One is “through the lens of PSYOPS, or psychological operations” — or intentional messaging aimed at discouraging the enemy, akin to the U.S. dropping leaflets in World War II telling foreign combatants that they must surrender or die. Rowland said Trump “always has to be the big dog in the room,” and his war messaging should be viewed in that context.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 15, 2026 11:30 UTC