Letters from an American - Trump's "Mini War"

Episode Date: May 5, 2026

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Hello, this is Michael Moss. Heather Cox Richardson is unable to read the letter today, so I will be reading it in her place. May 4th, 2026. According to a new Washington Post-ABC News Ipsos poll, 59% of Americans believe President Donald J. Trump does not have the mental sharpness necessary to lead the country. Fifty-five percent think he does not have the fiscal health, to serve as president. 54% say they don't think Trump is a strong leader. 67% think Trump doesn't carefully consider important decisions. Today, Susanna George and Tara Kopp of the Washington Post reported that as the U.S.

ramps up its attempts to open the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is responding with military attacks. This morning, Iran filed drones and missiles at two. U.S. destroyers and two merchant vessels moving through the strait. According to Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, none of the ships were hit. But Iran also launched six fastboats at the commercial ships. Cooper said the U.S. destroyed those vessels. Ahmed Vahidi, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, posted on social media, the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened by the tweet of the President of the United States. The management and control of this waterway is in the hands of Iran.

Nothing will have the right to enter without permission. And in the event of a violation of this matter, it will be considered a legitimate target. Iran also hit the United Arab Emirates today with 15 missiles and four drones. One of the armaments started a fire in the old. oil hub of Fujira. Trump told Trey Yinks of the Fox News Channel today that his military blockade of Iranian ports is the greatest military maneuver in history. He also said if the Iranians target U.S. ships, they will be blown off the face of the earth. And yet, as Iran demonstrated by hitting the United Arab Emirates today, resuming the war could devastate the Middle East, plunging the globe

into even more economic chaos. So, for now, Trump appears to be hanging onto the ceasefire. Alexander Ward of the Wall Street Journal noted that today, at the White House, Trump told a group of small business owners that he calls it a mini-war. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat of Illinois, called out the fact that the Trump administration argued on Friday that it did not have to get congressional approval for the war on Iran at the 60-day mark required by the 1973 war powers resolution because it said the war had terminated on April 7th. It made the claim despite the fact that a blockade is an act of war and the U.S. continues to blockade Iranian ports. Asked on Saturday how he would say the war

had terminated when the U.S. military was enforcing the blockade, Trump told reporters, well, it's a very friendly blockade. Nobody's even challenging it. Duckworth, who lost both legs when serving as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot in the Iraq War, posted, U.S. and Iranian ships are exchanging missile fire today in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's claim that hostilities have ceased were b-b-h-h. He is lying to the American people and prolonging his disastrous war of choice. And he's doing it, illegally. This afternoon, Trump posted an AI image of President Joe Biden on one knee with the caption, Cowards Neal. An AI image of President Barack Obama with the caption, Traders Bow, and an AI image of himself with his fist raised and the caption, Leaders Lead. Journalist

Aaron Rupar noted, Trump is crazy posting at 3 p.m. Letters from an American was written by Heather Cox Richardson. It was produced at Soundscape Productions, Dead in Massachusetts. Recorded with music composed by Michael Moss.