Potential Airstrikes on Yemen Raise Questions on Trump’s Antiwar Stance
President Donald Trump’s commitment to ending Middle East conflicts is under scrutiny following revelations from a leaked Signal group chat, suggesting plans for airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg reported being inadvertently added to this chat by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. In a discussion with MSNBC, Goldberg refrained from sharing specifics but indicated the chat detailed “the specific time of a future attack, specific targets—including human targets meant to be killed in that attack—weapon systems, and even weather reports … It was a minute-by-minute accounting of what was about to happen.”
The security breach has led to calls from Democrats for Waltz’s resignation, raising concerns about Trump’s key campaign issue of foreign policy. As per a Wall Street Journal poll from October, swing-state voters largely favored Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris on handling international conflicts, with many viewing him as an antiwar candidate.
Trump’s antiwar reputation traces back to his 2016 campaign, where he criticized the Iraq War and opponent Hillary Clinton’s 2002 vote in favor of it. Despite pledging to end the Afghanistan War during his first term, he did not fulfill this promise. A planned airstrike on Iran in 2019 was aborted at the last minute.
In his 2024 campaign, Trump vowed to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict swiftly and secure peace between Israel and Hamas. However, these promises remain unmet. His relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and halted military aid to Ukraine have attracted criticism. Trump’s assertion of a successful ceasefire with Hamas prior to taking office was short-lived.
Since January 2024, the U.S. has been at odds with the Houthis, who have attacked Red Sea shipping in response to Israel’s Gaza conflict. Trump recently stated the Houthis would be “completely annihilated.”
Naval War College strategist James R. Holmes, speaking to the New York Times, expressed skepticism about the success of airstrikes in Yemen, emphasizing the need for ground control.
Public opinion on Trump’s antiwar stance appears to be shifting. An Ipsos poll from March indicated only 37% approval of his foreign policy, with a disapproval rate of 50%.
The White House remains confident in its ability to achieve peace in Yemen, Ukraine, and Israel.
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