Republicans slam – During the G7 conference, Donald Trump described a proposed Iran agreement as “very strong” even as he acknowledged that “nobody knows what it is.” Hours later, the administration released the terms of a 14-point memorandum of understanding—one that includes l
When Donald Trump stepped in front of reporters during the G7 conference on Wednesday, he projected confidence while admitting the public didn’t yet have the full picture.
“Nobody knows what it is,” the president said—then quickly pivoted to insist his supposed deal with Iran was “very strong,” adding that “most people seem to be very happy.”
Hours later, a 14-point “memorandum of understanding” went public. It is built around commitments that. critics say. undercut the administration’s stated aims for ending the conflict and curbing Iran’s capabilities—while offering Iran concrete incentives as key issues are pushed into later negotiations.
The memo calls for “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts. ” including Lebanon. where Israel has been launching strikes. It also lays out demands for Iran to use its “best efforts” to open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. and it includes a temporary constraint on costs by requiring Iran to not charge fees for 60 days. U.S. sanctions against Iran would be lifted. and the United States would work with regional partners to secure $300 billion in reconstruction funds for Iran.
Under the document, a final deal is not expected to be locked in immediately. Instead, it calls for an agreement to be reached in the next 60 days, with the deadline potentially extended. Trump has made clear the administration views the memorandum as preliminary, saying it is not final. “It’s a memorandum of understanding. and if I don’t like it we’ll go back to shooting at them. dropping bombs on their head. ” he said on Wednesday. “If I don’t like it. if they don’t behave. we’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head.”.
But the blueprint itself has sparked sharp backlash across Republican ranks and the right-wing media ecosystem—much of it focused on the mismatch between what the administration said it wanted and what is actually in the agreement.
Sen. Bill Cassidy. who will leave the Senate next year after losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger. wrote on X that “Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave.” He argued that “Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed. ” that Iran “has learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works. ” and that “they will undoubtedly leverage it in the future.” He added. “Now. Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal.”.
Sen. Ted Cruz, speaking to reporters, was even more blunt, calling the approach “not a good idea” and saying, “History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is not a good idea. I think the president is receiving some very poor advice on this deal.”
Sen. Thom Tillis offered a more measured assessment. arguing the deal was neither “great” nor “bad. ” but he still flagged the stakes. He said the prospect of $300 billion going to Iran is “concerning,” and he noted the U.S. appears to be “equivocating” on some of the administration’s goals dealing with Iran’s nuclear program.
Ben Shapiro, a right-wing commentator who has supported Trump’s Middle Eastern military incursions, was less restrained. In remarks delivered Wednesday, he blamed Vice President J.D. Vance for the negotiations and fixated on reports that Israel was not a party to them. Shapiro also pointed to the plan for the $300 billion reconstruction fund. and he said the deal would permit Iran to continue exerting financial control over the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve been hearing from the White House. from the president that the war is over. the deal is done. but that isn’t actually the reality. It’s just not real. The White House itself acknowledges this,” Shapiro said on his Wednesday broadcast. “If we release funds. or if we tell our Arab Gulf state allies to release funds to Iran. it doesn’t have to be American taxpayer dollars. that is us releasing money to Iran. If you unfreeze money to a terrorist group, that is in fact money going to a terrorist group.”.
In a separate Fox News appearance, Shapiro called the proposal a “disaster that does not achieve any of the signal goals that were set by the administration.”
He described what those goals were: “There were effectively five goals that were set by the administration at the beginning. One was ending the nuclear program — not just nuclear weapons, no nuclear enrichment — zero enrichment. That is not in the deal. ‘Ballistic missiles ended. ’ that is not in the deal. and the president today suggested that ballistic missiles should actually continue to be held by the Iranians.”.
Even some outlets that typically back the president joined the criticism. The Murdoch-owned New York Post ran a Thursday cover showing a burning American flag and the headline “LOVEBOMB: Prez says Islamic regime ‘not radical,’ his deal showers mullahs with cash — and no sanctions.”
On social media, other right-wing figures including Will Chamberlain, Richard Hanania, and Piers Morgan also attacked the deal. Chamberlain wrote that the agreement is “absolutely terrible,” adding, “There’s no getting around it.”
As the blowback gathered speed, Trump appeared to notice. In a post on Truth Social early Thursday morning. he complained about criticism from those he said were questioning his posture on Iran. “These fools. who think I haven’t been tough enough on Iran. when the Stock Market Just Hit A RECORD HIGH. and Oil prices are ‘tumbling’ down. are either jealous. bad people. or stupid. ” he wrote.
The scramble between public confidence and public unease is now playing out against a ticking clock. The memo envisions an agreement within the next 60 days. even as major disputes—about Iran’s nuclear program. missile posture. and what. exactly. counts as a real end to hostilities—have already begun to separate supporters from skeptics.
MISRYOUM United States politics Donald Trump Iran memorandum of understanding G7 U.S. sanctions Strait of Hormuz Lebanon strikes Bill Cassidy Ted Cruz Thom Tillis J.D. Vance Ben Shapiro Truth Social
nobody knows what it is but he says it’s very strong lol
So Republicans are calling it a disaster… but Trump admitted they don’t even know what it is? That seems like common sense though. I’m confused how this is allowed to be “strong” if the terms are basically later.
Wait is this the one where Iran gets incentives already, like money or whatever, and Israel is just supposed to stop? The memo says termination of military operations even in Lebanon, but I don’t see how that magically happens. Also “best efforts” sounds vague as hell, like could mean nothing.
I swear every time there’s some agreement it’s just gonna get people killed anyway. If Israel is doing strikes in Lebanon and the memo says immediate permanent termination on all fronts, then either they’re lying or the whole thing is theater. Then Republicans blast him like they didn’t help make the mess before… also “most people seem to be very happy” where? twitter? idk.