{"id":2571203,"date":"2026-02-18T17:46:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T22:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-may-not-have-made-the-case-for-us-military-action-on-iran\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T17:48:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T22:48:45","slug":"trump-may-not-have-made-the-case-for-us-military-action-on-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-may-not-have-made-the-case-for-us-military-action-on-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump may not have \u2018made the case\u2019 for US military action on Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-may-not-have-made-the-case-for-us-military-action-on-iran%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571203&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Washington Examiner\u2019s chief political correspondent Byron York questions whether President Donald Trump or the media has clearly explained why the United States would need to take military action against Iran. The piece notes that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described Iran\u2019s nuclear program as an undeniable right during Geneva talks, following protests that were reported to have killed thousands. York argues that trump did not prepare Americans for earlier military actions, and while the U.S.is capable of ample action against Iran,it remains unclear what form that action would take or whether it is truly necessary. He says the president must articulate a clear standard or justification for any military action, noting that Trump has claimed Iran\u2019s nuclear program has suffered \u201cpretty grievous damage\u201d but that a case for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/make-regime-change-great-again\/\" title=\"Make regime change great again?\">large-scale military action<\/a> has not yet been made. Israeli Prime Minister benjamin Netanyahu is cited as insisting that any U.S. deal with iran must dismantle Iran\u2019s nuclear program entirely, expressing skepticism that a thorough agreement can be reached due to Iranian behavior.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump may not have &lsquo;made the case&rsquo; for US to take military action on Iran: Byron York<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2509511\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Washington Examiner<\/em> chief political correspondent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/byron-york\/\">Byron York<\/a> said on Tuesday he is unsure if President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4459907\/trump-wes-moore-blame-game-massive-potomac-river-waste-spill\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> or the media has shown the public why the United States would need to take action against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\">Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Iranian Supreme Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ali-khamenei\/\">Ali Khamenei<\/a> said on Tuesday that the country&rsquo;s nuclear industry is &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4460065\/ali-khamenei-iran-nuclear-industry-our-undeniable-right-threats-against-us\/\">our undeniable right<\/a>,&rdquo; as negotiations over Tehran&rsquo;s nuclear program <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4460064\/us-iran-talks-foreign-minister-nuclear\/\">took place in Geneva<\/a>. The negotiations came about a month after an estimated tens of thousands of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4432911\/iran-may-have-killed-30000-protesters-two-days\/\">Iranian protesters were killed <\/a>in the country.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4462104\/fcc-brendan-carr-hoax-colbert-talarico-interview\/\">FCC chairman denies &#8216;hoax&#8217; that agency blocked Colbert-Talarico interview: &#8216;Highly entertained&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4461616\/netflix-warner-bros-merger-lawsuit\/\">Netflix faces consumer lawsuit as Warner Bros. merger scrutiny mounts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4461734\/colbert-disinterested-both-sides-show-joe-concha\/\">Colbert is &#8216;not interested&#8217; in giving &#8216;both sides&#8217; a spot on his show: Joe Concha<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>York said Trump hadn&rsquo;t prepared Americans for the military action of removing former Venezuelan dictator <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4455931\/delcy-rodriguez-considering-us-visit-after-meeting-with-chris-wright\/\">Nicolas Maduro<\/a> earlier this year, but this action was &ldquo;quick&rdquo; and &ldquo;very, very sharply focused.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>For Iran, however, it is still unclear what action the U.S. would take, though York acknowledged the U.S. is capable of doing &ldquo;a lot.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I would disagree with [host Hugh Hewitt&rsquo;s statement that the media has prepared the public for U.S. military action in Iran] in a sense that the media can kind of prepare the way for this,&rdquo; York said on the <em>Hugh Hewitt Show<\/em>. &ldquo;I think there&rsquo;s nobody who can prepare the way for this except the president of the United States, who said, &lsquo;We&rsquo;re going to do this, this, and this, or they have to get rid of their nuclear program, they have to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-promised-donors-hed-deport-pro-palestinian-protesters-report\/\" title=\"Report: ... assured contributors he would expel pro-Palestinian demonstrators\">stop killing people<\/a>, and they have to stop supporting regional terrorist organizations. And if they don&rsquo;t do it, we&rsquo;re going to hit them.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VDlEuAHMb38?si=dmue_fBt6gLdfpK9\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>    <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think if those are the United States&rsquo;s standards, that has to be articulated by the president,&rdquo; York said.<\/p>\n<p>York added that Trump has said the U.S. has done &ldquo;pretty grievous damage&rdquo; to Iran&rsquo;s nuclear program, and he agrees with the president&rsquo;s assessment. However, York said he doesn&rsquo;t know if &ldquo;big U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nuclear-powers-india-pakistan-on-brink-of-war-armed-conflict-expected-within-hours\/\" title=\"Nuclear Powers India, Pakistan on Brink of War - Armed Conflict Expected Within Hours\">military action&#038;rdquo<\/a>; against Iran is needed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;So I&rsquo;m just wondering why it&rsquo;s absolutely necessary, and the president has not made the case, depending on how this military action is, if it comes,&rdquo; York said.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-on-defense\/4461276\/two-peace-plans-on-dual-track-to-intractable-impasse\/\"><strong>DAILY ON DEFENSE: AS ALL SIDES DIG IN, TWO PEACE PLANS ON DUAL TRACK TO INTRACTABLE IMPASSE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>York concluded that, depending on the size of this military action, there has to be &ldquo;a presidential justification&rdquo; for taking it, and &ldquo;we just haven&rsquo;t had it&rdquo; yet from Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Israeli Prime Minister <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> stressed on Sunday that any deal between the U.S. and Iran must include the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4458871\/netanyahu-dismantling-nuclear-equipment-us-iran-deal\/\">dismantling of Iran&rsquo;s nuclear program<\/a> entirely, not just a promise to halt uranium enrichment. He also said he is &ldquo;very skeptical&rdquo; that a comprehensive deal can be struck because the Iranians &ldquo;lie and cheat.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>York says Trump hasn&#8217;t made a case for Iran action<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2571204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26048649181077-e1771448221122.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3823,36808,5894,3634,36408],"class_list":["post-2571203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-iran","tag-military-action","tag-politics","tag-trump","tag-us-foreign-policy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26048649181077-e1771448221122.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571203"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571207,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571203\/revisions\/2571207"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}