US President Donald Trump is in a state of delirium as he attempts to find an exit from the war he himself provoked in the Middle East, dealing out threats, ultimatums, and war bulletins. In a new social media post, the US President claims that Iran has already "buckled" by requesting a ceasefire, while simultaneously threatening the total annihilation of an entire country. With the shocking phrase "I will send them back to the Stone Age," Trump makes it clear that if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately brought under control, the path to disaster is irreversible. "The new President of the Iranian regime, far less radicalized and much more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE! We will consider it when the Strait of Hormuz is open, free, and clear. Until then, we will blast Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Age!!!" Trump noted in his post.
According to an article in the newspaper Al-Akhbar, Trump appears to be preparing the ground for the cessation of hostilities. The American President indirectly admitted that the war aims are collapsing one after another—even the most limited ones, such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz and controlling Iran’s enriched uranium (60%). This pivot dominates the headlines of American newspapers, as the price of gasoline in the US has exceeded $4 per gallon, causing tremors within the Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections. Meanwhile, accusations are mounting that Trump was lured into this war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran's steadfast stance
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that Tehran does not accept a mere ceasefire but demands a total end to the war on all fronts. This stance reflects Iran’s conviction regarding the failure of the US-Israeli axis. Trump, in statements to the New York Post, mentioned that "the war with Iran will end soon," adding provocatively that the countries using Hormuz "should go and open it themselves."
Trump's isolation
In the meantime, European allies are turning their backs on Washington. Following Spain, France has also banned the use of its airspace for refueling Israel, while Italy (despite Meloni's close relationship with Trump) prohibited American aircraft carrying war materiel from landing at the Sigonella base. On the field, Iran announced extensive strikes with suicide drones on strategic targets in Israel (Haifa, Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak), hitting industries and command centers. The Revolutionary Guard warned American technology and AI companies to evacuate their facilities, threatening retaliation for any assassination operations on Iranian soil.
Trump address in the early hours of Thursday (4/2/2026)
In this explosive setting, at 4:00 AM (GMT+2) on Thursday (4/2/2026), Trump is expected to deliver an address to the American people, where he may potentially announce a ground operation in Iran. The relevant announcement was published a few hours after Trump’s statements that the United States is expected to withdraw from Iran "very soon," timing this move within "two or three weeks." Trump simultaneously mentioned that there might be an agreement between Washington and Tehran before that interval and emphasized that regime change has occurred in Iran.
The... crushing poll
Trump’s rhetoric is no coincidence... A new CNN poll by SSRS reveals a grim reality: Trump’s general approval rating is collapsing to 35% (down from 39%), with the economy proving to be his "Achilles' heel." For the first time, American citizens appear so disappointed by daily economic life that they evaluate Trump's performance more negatively than even that of his predecessor, Joe Biden. The spike in fuel prices and the relentless wave of high food costs are causing rifts even within the Republican ranks, creating an explosive scene of doubt regarding the government's ability to control the crisis.
Specifically, Trump’s approval for his handling of the economy has fallen to a new historic low of 31%, reflecting the growing pessimism of Americans regarding the issue they consistently describe as the most important. About two-thirds of Americans say that Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions in the US, a figure up 10 points since January. Only 27% say they approve of the way he is managing inflation, down from 44% a year ago. Trump's overall approval stands at 35% (down from 39% in January 2026), one point above his historic low in CNN polls. However, there is a notable erosion of support among his own voters. The percentage of Republicans who strongly approve of his performance has dropped to 43%, from 52% in January.
His approval on the economy has decreased by 8 points overall since January and by 14 points among Republicans. Among Republicans under 45, the drop is even more pronounced, reaching 23 points. And nearly 3 out of 10 Republicans (28%) say his policies have worsened the US economy, up from 13% in January. Since the US emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, poll after poll shows the economy at the top of the most important issues, with the public being broadly dissatisfied with Washington's management. However, the new CNN poll shows that the negative mood has reached a new level: the 65% who say that Trump’s policies have made the economy worse is the highest percentage of his presidency, surpassing even the percentage that said the same about Democrat Joe Biden’s policies at any point in his term. About three-quarters of Americans say the US economy is in bad shape, up 8 points from January, while the percentage characterizing it as "very bad" has increased by 12 points. About 6 in 10 say they expect the economy to be in bad shape in a year as well, the highest percentage in any of Trump’s presidencies.
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