Donald Trump turned on one of his traditional allies in the conservative media on Tuesday, attacking the Wall Street Journal on Truth Social after the paper’s editorial board published a column arguing that Iran had repeatedly “swindled” him by promising to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and then closing it again — extracting concession after concession from Washington in the process.
The column that triggered the outburst
WSJ editorial board member Elliot Kaufman wrote that Trump had effectively been deceived three times by Tehran’s cycle of opening and closing the strait, each time surrendering American leverage in exchange for a promise that was quickly reversed. In a separate piece, Kaufman argued that Iran’s regime had extracted repeated concessions from Washington while the strait remained functionally closed.
“How many times will President Trump pay Iran for the same real estate? Twice he has announced the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and twice he has given up US leverage in exchange. Yet the strait remains closed, as Iran’s regime demands more.”
— Elliot Kaufman, Wall Street Journal editorial board
Trump’s response
The president did not engage with the substance of Kaufman’s argument. Instead he posted a lengthy all-caps rebuttal on Truth Social, calling Kaufman an “IDIOT” and accusing the Wall Street Journal of having “LOST ITS WAY.” He framed the war as an unambiguous American victory, pointing to US military strikes against Iran’s navy, air force and political leadership as evidence of decisive action.
“For 47 years, they have killed our people, and many others, and taken advantage of every President, except me — And what did I give to them, a Country in tatters!”
— Donald Trump, Truth Social
The pattern Kaufman described
The Journal’s criticism tracks a recurring sequence in the Iran ceasefire negotiations that critics say has consistently favoured Tehran.
The broader context
The ceasefire between the US and Iran was set to expire on April 22 — the same day Trump’s post was published. Talks were reportedly scheduled in Pakistan, but Iran threatened retaliation after US forces seized an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman, casting doubt over whether Tehran would attend. Oil prices rose on the news of the seizure, reflecting ongoing market sensitivity to the strait’s status.
The exchange is notable partly because the Wall Street Journal editorial board has historically been sympathetic to Trump’s foreign policy instincts. Kaufman’s criticism coming from that quarter — rather than from a liberal outlet — appeared to be what made it sting.