The Rest Is Classified 148. Can Europe Salvage its Relationship with Trump?
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Apr 17, 2026 
David Ignatius, Washington Post columnist and bestselling novelist known for his CIA and national security reporting, joins to dissect Trump’s Middle East strategy. Short takes on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear-related options, whether special-ops seizures are realistic, Europe’s missed diplomatic moves, and how US institutions are responding to presidential use of force.
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Trump Thrives On Big Spectacles Not The Long Haul
- Donald Trump is intoxicated by the raw power of being commander in chief and favors big, dramatic military moves.
- David Ignatius says Trump excels at the opening show but struggles with follow-through and aftermath, making sustained policy fragile.
A Golden Bridge Deal Would Outsource Iran's Enrichment
- A likely deal path with Iran centers on handling its highly enriched uranium via IAEA-supervised dilution or removal.
- Ignatius describes a possible international consortium to provide enriched fuel so Iran can claim rights without domestic enrichment.
Damage Without Regime Collapse Could Lengthen Iran's Survival
- Military strikes battered Iran and its proxies, but the regime may gain cohesion and durability even as it's weakened.
- Ignatius warns the leadership change is likelier than full regime collapse and that factional pushes now favor hardliners pushing back on moderates.
