Trump-bashing MS NOW turned to a retired general who once warned of a GOP “shadow government” to bolster a negative narrative on Operation Epic Fury in Iran.
(Video Credit: MS NOW)
Despite already getting called out by President Donald Trump on coverage of military strikes against the Islamist regime, many in the corporate media have seen fit to fall back on the Trump Derangement Syndrome as a guiding principle. On Monday, that included the MS NOW program “The Weeknight” bringing in U.S. Army Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Steven Anderson to accuse the commander-in-chief of having “completely mismanaged” the situation in the Middle East.
“This is a disaster. Donald Trump is single-handedly bringing about a new era in which American stature and influence is greatly reduced,” said Anderson after Republican National Committee chair turned RINO talking head Michael Steele downplayed statements from the administration and asserted Iran “seems emboldened.”
“He has completely mismanaged this war — and his sycophants. He’s now having problems calling on the allies to help bail him out,” furthered the general. “He didn’t coordinate ahead of time with the American people or Congress. He did not successfully build any kind of a coalition other than with the Israelis.”
On the matter of allies, particularly within NATO, failing to support efforts to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open, Anderson focused on the public relations nature of decisions being made rather than what would strategically make sense. “In fact, for European leaders to support Donald Trump at this point is probably political peril. I think [U.K. Prime Minister Keir] Starmer’s approval rating went up six points when he pushed back against Donald Trump.”
“I predict, Michael, in about another three months we’re gonna probably have the same conversation, because this is going to take a long time to pull off and this is gonna be with us a long time,” contended the same general who dropped a Washington Post op-ed in 2021 alongside fellow retirees Gen. Paul D. Eaton and Major Gen. Antonio M. Taguba asserting that a Democrat White House victory in 2024 would result in a “shadow government” run by either Trump “or another Trumpian figure,” citing “the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol” in support of the doomsaying about a possible “military breakdown [that] could lead to civil war.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s view on the current state of Operation Epic Fury varied drastically from Anderson’s as he addressed the lack of support from NATO.
“The United States has been informed by most of our NATO ‘Allies’ that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran, in the Middle East, this, despite the fact that almost every Country strongly agreed with what we are doing, and that Iran cannot, in any way, shape, or form, be allowed to have a nuclear weapon” the president posted to Truth Social on Tuesday.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 17, 2026
Noting his lack of surprise, the president reiterated the impact the strikes had had on Iran’s military capabilities and said, “Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea. In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!”
The commander-in-chief also said from the Oval Office, “Iran is just a military operation to me. Iran is something that was, essentially, largely over in two or three days because the navy was wiped out almost immediately, the air force came next, the anti-aircraft came next … it’s gonna be a prosperous, wonderful place.”
“It used to be very successful,” said Trump. “Now it’s a country run by fear. It’s a country where they tell protesters, don’t go outside because if you do, we’re gonna kill you.”
.@POTUS: “Iran is just a military operation to me. Iran is something that was essentially largely over in two or three days because the navy was wiped out almost immediately, the air force came next… it’s going to be a prosperous, wonderful place… it used to be very… pic.twitter.com/M6sS5rU44p
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 17, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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