Published on: Fri, 20 Feb 2026 22:38:45 GMT
Original Story: Trump says he is considering limited military strike on Iran – BBC

Oil Prices Go Brrr? War’s a Racket.

So, our former reality TV star president, the guy who swore he’d end all these “endless wars,” is now casually tossing around the idea of lobbing a few missiles at Iran. Apparently, someone needs to remind him that “Mission Accomplished” banners are best left in the dustbin of history, along with all those participation trophies we millennials supposedly hoarded.

Trump Considers “Limited” Military Strike: Limited Sanity?

According to the BBC (because who else are we going to trust these days?), Trump is “considering” a “limited” military strike on Iran. Let’s unpack that, shall we? “Considering” implies he’s weighing the pros and cons, like deciding between a well-done steak with ketchup or a slightly less well-done steak with ketchup. “Limited” suggests this will be some sort of surgical strike, like performing brain surgery with a butter knife. I bet the Iranians are shaking in their boots.

Why Now? Because It’s Tuesday?

The justification, of course, is the usual vague claims of Iranian “aggression.” Apparently, whatever Iran is doing now is somehow worse than, say, the time they accidentally shot down a civilian airliner. Or maybe it’s because oil prices are suspiciously stable, and nothing says “economic stimulus” like a little geopolitical chaos to goose the market. Remember that time in 2019 when Trump authorized (then called off at the last minute) strikes on Iran after they shot down a U.S. drone? He claimed it wasn’t “proportionate.” Now, *that* was a tweet for the ages. I bet he’s regretting not pulling the trigger then, especially with an election looming.

The Tariff Tracker and the Inevitable Oil Spike

Here’s where things get interesting for those of us still clinging to our rapidly devaluing 401(k)s. Any military action against Iran, even a “limited” one, is going to send oil prices soaring faster than a SpaceX rocket. And when oil prices go up, everything else does too. We’re talking about higher gas prices (because, you know, inflation isn’t already high enough), higher shipping costs, higher prices at the grocery store. Basically, your avocado toast budget is about to get obliterated.

And let’s not forget the potential for retaliation. Iran has plenty of ways to make life difficult for the US and its allies in the region, none of which are going to be good for the global economy. Think disrupted shipping lanes, cyberattacks, and good old-fashioned proxy wars. Suddenly, those tariffs Trump slapped on everything from steel to semiconductors seem quaint by comparison.

Remember the Trade Deficit? Oh, Right…

Trump’s entire economic platform in 2016 was based on fixing the trade deficit and bringing back manufacturing jobs. How’s that going? Last I checked, the trade deficit was still chugging along quite nicely, thank you very much, and those manufacturing jobs seem to have taken a detour to Vietnam. Now, he’s about to potentially trigger a massive oil price shock that will further destabilize the economy and make everything more expensive. It’s almost like he’s deliberately trying to sabotage his own chances of reelection. Or maybe he just really likes chaos. Hard to say.

The “Art of the Deal” or the “Art of the Disaster”?

So, what’s the endgame here? Is Trump genuinely trying to deter Iranian aggression, or is he simply trying to distract from his mounting legal troubles and gin up some patriotic fervor before the election? Or maybe, just maybe, he’s got some deep-seated belief that he, and he alone, can fix the Middle East with a few well-placed bombs. Whatever the reason, it’s a dangerous game, and the rest of us are going to pay the price. Literally.

Ironic, isn’t it? The guy who promised to make America great again by fixing the economy is now flirting with a military conflict that could send us spiraling into a recession. I guess that’s just the “art of the deal” these days. Or, more accurately, the “art of the disaster.”

Snarky Takeaway

So, buckle up, buttercups. It looks like we’re in for another wild ride. And remember, when gas prices hit $6 a gallon, you can thank the guy who promised to drain the swamp. Turns out, he just filled it with oil… and gasoline. And maybe a few depleted uranium shells. All in the name of “making America great again.” I’m sure the avocado farmers will appreciate it.