Apple News In Conversation What the Iran war reveals about Trump’s approach to power
14 snips
Mar 5, 2026 
Susan Glasser, New Yorker staff writer and coauthor of The Divider, breaks down Trump's foreign policy instincts and presidential power. She discusses the Iran strikes as a risky, map-driven push for legacy and territory. Conversation covers mixed messaging from officials, Israel's role, constraints on presidential action, and the conflict's immediate domestic and credibility consequences.
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Trump Sees The World Like Real Estate
- Trump views geopolitics like real estate, wanting to "own" territory or score legacy wins.
- Glasser recounts Trump's Greenland fixation and his self-described map-and-real-estate mindset from interviews for The Divider.
Iran Strikes Spark A Different Scale Of Conflict
- The Iran strikes created a rapidly metastasizing regional war with higher stakes than prior one-off actions.
- Glasser notes attacks on civilian targets, threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and broad ally exposure.
Undefined Goals Make Wars Unwinnable
- The administration offered multiple, shifting rationales for the attack, undermining a clear war goal.
- Glasser warns Clausewitz matters: you cannot win a war if you cannot define its objective, noting early regime change messaging.
