Panel debates whether Trump's Iran war is the biggest mistake of his career

A news panel debated whether the US conflict with Iran is the biggest mistake of Donald Trump's political career, with the discussion quickly turning to the possible midterm fallout and the role of Israel's prime minister.

One panellist said the war was Trump's biggest mistake and predicted voters would punish it at the midterms in a couple of weeks. The same speaker argued it was strange because Trump had opposed foreign interventions before the conflict, then was led by Benjamin Netanyahu, who had said it would be over in days. They said Netanyahu had spent decades trying to persuade US presidents to act against Iran.

Another panellist pushed back. They said Trump can make up his own mind and rejected the idea that Netanyahu talked him into the war. In their view, Trump hoped the war would be over quickly, but wars often do not go as planned. They also said campaigning on the exact opposite policy was a big mistake. The panel noted the US has unmatched military strength after vast spending on navy, air, space and ground forces, and has spent billions on operations in Iran. The UK, by contrast, was described as no longer a major player, with the US in a league of its own and China not far behind.

The conversation widened into UK defence. Speakers said Britain should increase its defence budget, with one hoping for action from John Healey in the forthcoming budget. They said threats now include cyber attacks, grey-zone operations and undersea cable cutting, not just traditional warfare. A former coalition figure acknowledged defence spending had been cut in real terms after the 2008 banking crisis, saying the priority then was restoring economic confidence. Another panellist questioned whether more money would be spent well, warning that militaries often prepare for the last war. Ukraine was cited as a moment that had changed warfare, with doubts about how quickly the Ministry of Defence and procurement could adapt.

The panel also touched on Israel and the US. One speaker said the UK was damaging its security and technology relationship with Israel for no good reason. Several agreed the American alliance is vital whoever is in the White House, and that UK security depends on it. They said it should not be a party political issue. Asked about Lord Frost's view, a panellist accepted there is a strong UK-US defence relationship worth preserving, but said the tectonic plates had changed in Washington and Trump had rewritten the rules. They hoped he was an aberration and said he might be weakened after the midterms, or might decide to do more once he loses control of Congress. The segment ended with a handover to another guest.