During a week when Donald Trump touted his image as the ultimate peacemaker, Israel launched sweeping airstrikes on more than 100 Iranian nuclear and military sites, dashing hopes of diplomatic resolution . His personal pleas to Prime Minister Netanyahu to hold off went unheeded, exposing significant fractures in Trump’s influential role .

While Trump reaffirmed his preference for negotiations and urged Iran to "make a deal before it is too late," senior U.S. officials - led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio - were quick to clarify that the U.S. was not involved in the Israeli strikes, a diplomatic distancing that undercuts Trump's public message . This tension highlights the growing disconnect between his peacemaking rhetoric and the realpolitik unfolding across the Middle East.

Analysts now question whether Trump's campaign image can survive the rupture - one that sees his influence sidelined in favour of unilateral military action by allies. With possible Iranian retaliation looming, the scramble is on to salvage both regional stability and Trump's global credibility