Trump's Iran War Lacks the Public Persuasion Campaign FDR Mastered

President Trump has spent six months and at least $35 billion on a conflict with Iran without a sustained effort to rally public support, shifting from eliminating nuclear capabilities to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. Historian Julian Zelizer contrasts this with Franklin Roosevelt's use of entertainers like Donald Duck to build public backing for World War II. The piece argues that successful wartime presidents typically articulate a clear rationale for military action, a step the current administration has largely skipped.