The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell Velshi: Trump about to face down adversary China, 'weakened, overextended' and stuck in his Iran war
May 12, 2026
Discussion of how the Iran war and depleted munitions have weakened U.S. leverage and credibility. Analysis of trade tensions and economic fallout as the U.S. risks falling behind China in research and tourism. Coverage of a nationwide redistricting surge that confuses voters and sparks legal fights. Examination of repeated prosecutions as potential retribution against critics.
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Iran War Exposes U.S. Strategic Weakness
- Donald Trump's Iran war has visibly weakened U.S. global influence and exposed limits in munitions replenishment and strategy.
- Chinese analysts call the U.S. a "giant with a limp," linking depleted stockpiles and inability to sustain intense conflict to diminished American power.
Chaos Diplomacy Handicaps Beijing Summit
- Brendan Boyle and Adam Smith argue Trump's incoherent, moment-to-moment approach weakens U.S. negotiating positions with China.
- Overplaying in the Middle East and trade escalation left Trump entering the Beijing summit from a weakened economic and diplomatic stance.
Use Allies To Reopen The Strait Of Hormuz
- Rebuild alliances and negotiate multilaterally to resolve the Iran crisis rather than unilateral coercion.
- Adam Smith notes roughly 50 countries want the strait open and were pushed away by unilateral U.S. actions and reliance on informal negotiators.