President Donald Trump doubled down on his redline for the Iranian regime, plainly stating that "help is on the way" for the freedom fighters currently in the streets. That came in a Tuesday morning post that seemed to signal imminent action.
What started as economic protests in Iran has begun to morph into a full revolution, with estimates of civilian deaths ranging from 3,000 to 12,000. Whatever the true total is, there is no doubt the original redline, defined as being triggered by the shooting of protesters, has been leaped over and run past.
On Monday, there was some anonymously-sourced talk of backtracking into negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, reportedly pushed by some in the White House, but the president is pointedly saying that is off the table. Instead, he is directly encouraging Iranians to take to the streets, a move that changes the dynamic of U.S. involvement.
Related: Is the Iranian Regime Collapsing? Here's What the Media Isn't Telling You
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 13, 2026
One of the worst things Barack Obama did as president was abandon the Iranian people during the Green Revolution, instead choosing to send pallets of cash to the Mullahs for a meaningless "nuclear deal." He's still rightfully scolded and mocked for it today, and Trump appears to be of no mind to make the same mistake. Whether those aforementioned reports of some advisors wanting to abandon the protesters in favor of talks with the regime are true or not, the president has left no doubt he's nuking the idea.
Trump knows that no deal with the current Iranian government would be worth the paper it's written on. Just as importantly, it would doom millions of people to violent reprisals if the Mullahs are given that out. Besides, the easiest way to ensure Iran doesn't acquire nuclear weapons is to take out the regime that wants to develop them. That it also happens to be the same regime that funds Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups would be an added bonus. Iran is the largest impediment to broader peace in the Middle East and has been for decades. That's most recently evidenced by their moves to try to blow up the Abraham Accords, including helping facilitate the October 7th attack.
While I understand some, including on the right, don't want to take military action against Iran, we are at the point of no return now. Trump chose to draw this redline, and he has to follow through on it. That's even more true now that he's pointedly asked Iranians to escalate this revolution. The United States is not just a bystander anymore.
Obama's moral failings regarding Iran will be a stain on his legacy for the rest of history. If Trump ends up taking out the Iranian regime, that will be even more apparent, and the contrast will be that much clearer.
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