The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell Lawrence: Trump retreats on Iran and proves he’s worse than Nixon
Mar 24, 2026
Amos Hochstein, former White House advisor on energy and the Middle East, and Rep. Adam Smith, ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. They discuss Trump's pullback on strikes and its market effects. Topics include energy disruptions from the Iran conflict, control of the Strait of Hormuz, economic ripple effects, unclear U.S. strategy and the costs of escalation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump's Reaction To Mueller Reveals Moral Decline
- Donald Trump publicly celebrated Robert Mueller's death, revealing a deeper moral and educational deficiency compared with past presidents.
- Lawrence O'Donnell contrasts Trump's crude statement with Richard Nixon's silence at Leon Jaworski's death to show historical deterioration in presidential decency.
Market Moves Drive Trump's Military Messaging
- Trump repeatedly retreats from major threats when markets react, using public claims of negotiations to calm investors.
- O'Donnell and guests note the stock market responds to Trump's claims even without independent verification, calling it a pattern of 'chickening out.'
Stop The War To Prevent Further Costs
- Stop the war to limit further cost and loss of life, and pursue a better plan rather than escalation.
- Rep. Adam Smith urges immediate pressure on the administration and Republicans to justify continued bloodshed without a viable objective.